How much can a person take? Apparently, a lot!

A charity worker from Britain in India went through a lot. After surviving COVID-19, dengue, and malaria, Ian Jones did not expect any more hurdles. But then, he was bit by a deadly snake in the Indian state of Rajasthan.

An Indian cobra bit Jones in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan, after which he underwent treatment at a hospital in Jodhpur city, which is 350 kms away from the state capital Jaipur.

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Initially, doctors suspected that he was also carrying COVID-19, for which he later tested negative.

"Jones came to us last week after a snake bite in a village in the region. Initially it was suspected that he is also Covid-19 positive (for the second time) but he tested negative for that," doctor Abhishek Tater, who treated him at the local Medipulse Hospital, told AFP on November 21.

The doctor spoke about the symptoms exhibited by Jones after the snake bite. "While with us, he was conscious and had snake bite symptoms including blurring of vision and difficulty to walk, but these are generally transient symptoms," Tater added.

He was discharged soon after, and the doctor believes there won’t be any “long term effects”.

Also read:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/watch-indonesian-man-kills-snake-on-train-with-bare-hands-24923" hreflang="en">Watch: Man kills snake on train with bare hands, becomes internet star</a>

“If he hasn't already improved, he'd do so within next few days," the doctor told AFP further. Additionally, the doctor pointed out how common snake bites are in rural parts of the region.

His son, Seb Jones has set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for medical bills, and to facilitate his travel back to England.

On the page, his son’s statement read as follows: "Dad is a fighter, during his time out in India he had already suffered from malaria and dengue fever before Covid-19”.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

How much can a person take? Apparently, a lot! A charity worker from Britain in India went through a lot. After surviving COVID-19, dengue, and malaria, Ian Jones did not expect any more hurdles.

How much can a person take? Apparently, a lot! A charity worker from Britain in India went through a lot. After surviving COVID-19, dengue, and malaria, Ian Jones did not expect any more hurdles. But then, he was bit by a deadly snake in the Indian state of Rajasthan. An Indian cobra bit Jones in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan, after which he underwent treatment at a hospital in Jodhpur city, which is 350 kms away from the state capital Jaipur. Also read: British musician plays classical tunes for hungry monkeys in Thailand Initially, doctors suspected that he was also carrying COVID-19, for which he later tested negative. "Jones came to us last week after a snake bite in a village in the region. Initially it was suspected that he is also Covid-19 positive (for the second time) but he tested negative for that," doctor Abhishek Tater, who treated him at the local Medipulse Hospital, told AFP on November 21. The doctor spoke about the symptoms exhibited by Jones after the snake bite. "While with us, he was conscious and had snake bite symptoms including blurring of vision and difficulty to walk, but these are generally transient symptoms," Tater added. He was discharged soon after, and the doctor believes there won’t be any “long term effects”. Also read: Watch: Man kills snake on train with bare hands, becomes internet star “If he hasn't already improved, he'd do so within next few days," the doctor told AFP further. Additionally, the doctor pointed out how common snake bites are in rural parts of the region. His son, Seb Jones has set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for medical bills, and to facilitate his travel back to England. On the page, his son’s statement read as follows: "Dad is a fighter, during his time out in India he had already suffered from malaria and dengue fever before Covid-19”.

British man in India survives cobra bite after recovering from COVID-19, dengue, malaria

The UN children’s agency - UNICEF on Monday said that it intends to ship 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries in 2021 in what it’s touting as a “mammoth operation”.

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The agency claimed that it is working with more than 350 airline and freight carriers to distribute vaccines and syringes to countries like Burundi, Afghanistan, and Yemen.&nbsp;

This move is part of COVAX - a global vaccine allocation programme co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO).

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"This invaluable collaboration will go a long way to ensure that enough transport capacity is in place for this historic and mammoth operation," Etleva Kadilli, director of UNICEF's Supply Division, said in a statement.

The COVAX programme, co-led by GAVI, WHO, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations intends to urge governments to not hoard COVID-19 vaccines, and to vaccinate people who remain at the highest risk.

At the&nbsp;G20 summit over the weekend, leaders from the top 20 global economies pledged to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are distributed fairly, so that poor countries are not left out.

According to WHO, the access to vaccines was unequal even before the pandemic hit. Over 20 million babies did not receive vaccines capable of saving them from serious illnesses, disability, and death.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/oxford-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-shows-70-efficacy-can-be-90-effective-trial-data-reveals-344807" hreflang="en">Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine shows 70% efficacy; can be 90% effective, trial data reveals</a>

UNICEF is the world’s largest single vaccine buyer. On behalf of 100 countries, the agency procures 2 billion doses of vaccines annually.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the lives of 1.3 million people across the globe so far, with numbers rising fiercely in almost all countries and regions.

The UN children’s agency - UNICEF on Monday said that it intends to ship 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries in 2021 in what it’s touting as a “mammoth operation”.

The UN children’s agency - UNICEF on Monday said that it intends to ship 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries in 2021 in what it’s touting as a “mammoth operation”. The agency claimed that it is working with more than 350 airline and freight carriers to distribute vaccines and syringes to countries like Burundi, Afghanistan, and Yemen. This move is part of COVAX - a global vaccine allocation programme co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO). Also read: Intellectual property war: Hackers try to steal Covid vaccine secrets "This invaluable collaboration will go a long way to ensure that enough transport capacity is in place for this historic and mammoth operation," Etleva Kadilli, director of UNICEF's Supply Division, said in a statement. The COVAX programme, co-led by GAVI, WHO, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations intends to urge governments to not hoard COVID-19 vaccines, and to vaccinate people who remain at the highest risk. At the G20 summit over the weekend, leaders from the top 20 global economies pledged to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are distributed fairly, so that poor countries are not left out. According to WHO, the access to vaccines was unequal even before the pandemic hit. Over 20 million babies did not receive vaccines capable of saving them from serious illnesses, disability, and death. Also read: Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine shows 70% efficacy; can be 90% effective, trial data reveals UNICEF is the world’s largest single vaccine buyer. On behalf of 100 countries, the agency procures 2 billion doses of vaccines annually. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the lives of 1.3 million people across the globe so far, with numbers rising fiercely in almost all countries and regions.

UNICEF to ship 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to poor countries next year

Britain’s AstraZeneca said on Monday its vaccine for the novel coronavirus could be around 90% effective without any serious side effects.

AstraZeneca says COVID-19 vaccine candidate is 70% effective

The United States in the midst of the worst coronavirus wave the country has seen.

Even before November is over, the country has seen more COVID-19 cases than any other month during the pandemic: Between November 1 and 22, over 3 million new cases of coronavirus were recorded, as per data from Johns Hopkins University.

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In 44 American states, the percentage of positive COVID-19 is way above the 5 per cent threshold. With this surge, hospitalisations and the pressure on healthcare have surged rapidly.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/coronavirus-us-continues-to-battle-huge-uptick-as-it-sees-over-2200-new-deaths-344219" hreflang="en">Coronavirus: US continues to battle huge uptick as it sees over 2,200 new deaths</a>

In the ongoing month of November, US recorded the highest number of hospitalisations related to COVID-19. This has increased the stress on American healthcare, and has threatened to deprive others of care.

On Saturday alone, 83,227 people diagnosed with COVID-19 were hospitalised in the country, based on numbers by the Covid Tracking Project.

For 12th day in a row, the US has broken record for COVID-19 hospitalisations.

According to CNN, 24 hospital chiefs have warned the American Hospital Association that they’re facing staffing problems.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/one-person-dying-every-17-seconds-in-europe-due-to-coronavirus-who-344188" hreflang="en">One person dying every 17 seconds in Europe due to coronavirus: WHO</a>

According to experts, the number is expected to climb further, as the holiday season sinks in the country, with Thanksgiving around the corner.

Dr. Megan Ranney said told CNN that even if 1 per cent of the 50 million people expected to travel for Thanksgiving transmit or contract the virus, it would amount to over 500,000 cases in the country.

So far, 12.2 million people in the US have contracted COVID-19, with 256,000 deaths across the country.

The United States in the midst of the worst coronavirus wave the country has seen. Even before November is over, the country has seen more COVID-19 cases than any other month during the pandemic: Between November 1 and 22, over 3 million new cases of coronavirus were recorded, as per data from Johns Hopkins University.

The United States in the midst of the worst coronavirus wave the country has seen. Even before November is over, the country has seen more COVID-19 cases than any other month during the pandemic: Between November 1 and 22, over 3 million new cases of coronavirus were recorded, as per data from Johns Hopkins University. In 44 American states, the percentage of positive COVID-19 is way above the 5 per cent threshold. With this surge, hospitalisations and the pressure on healthcare have surged rapidly. Also read: Coronavirus: US continues to battle huge uptick as it sees over 2,200 new deaths In the ongoing month of November, US recorded the highest number of hospitalisations related to COVID-19. This has increased the stress on American healthcare, and has threatened to deprive others of care. On Saturday alone, 83,227 people diagnosed with COVID-19 were hospitalised in the country, based on numbers by the Covid Tracking Project. For 12th day in a row, the US has broken record for COVID-19 hospitalisations. According to CNN, 24 hospital chiefs have warned the American Hospital Association that they’re facing staffing problems. Also read: One person dying every 17 seconds in Europe due to coronavirus: WHO According to experts, the number is expected to climb further, as the holiday season sinks in the country, with Thanksgiving around the corner. Dr. Megan Ranney said told CNN that even if 1 per cent of the 50 million people expected to travel for Thanksgiving transmit or contract the virus, it would amount to over 500,000 cases in the country. So far, 12.2 million people in the US have contracted COVID-19, with 256,000 deaths across the country.

US sees record number of coronavirus hospitalisations for 12th day in a row

The Oxford University and British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca have announced on Monday that their vaccine for the novel coronavirus could be around 70% effective under one dosing regimen.

Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is 70% effective

Leaders of the 20 biggest economies on Saturday vowed to ensure a fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, drugs and tests around the world and do what was needed to support poorer countries struggling to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

"We will spare no effort to ensure their affordable and equitable access for all people, consistent with members’ commitments to incentivize innovation," the leaders said in a draft G20 communique seen by Reuters. "We recognise the role of extensive immunization as a global public good."

The twin crises of the pandemic and an uneven, uncertain global recovery dominated the first day of a two-day summit under the chairmanship of Saudi Arabia, which hands off the rotating presidency of the G20 to Italy next month.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has thrown the global economy into a deep recession this year, and efforts needed to underpin an economic rebound in 2021, were at the top of the agenda.

"We must work to create the conditions for affordable and equitable access to these tools for all peoples," Saudi Arabia`s King Salman bin Abdulaziz said in his opening remarks.

G20 leaders are concerned that the pandemic might further deepen global divisions between the rich and the poor.

"We need to avoid at all costs a scenario of a two-speed world where only the richer can protect themselves against the virus and restart normal lives," French President Emmanuel Macron told the summit.

To do that, the European Union urged G20 leaders quickly to put more money into a global project for vaccines, tests and therapeutics - called Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator - and its COVAX facility to distribute vaccines.

"At the G20 Summit I called for $4.5 billion to be invested in ACT Accelerator by the end of 2020, for procurement &amp; delivery of COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines everywhere," European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said on Twitter.

"We need to show global solidarity," she said.

Germany was contributing more than 500 million euros ($592.65 million) to the effort, Chancellor Angela Merkel told the G20, urging other countries to do their part, according to a text of her remarks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to provide Russia`s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to other countries and said Moscow was also preparing a second and third vaccine.

China, where the pandemic originated a year ago, also offered to cooperate on vaccines. China has five home-grown candidates for a vaccine undergoing the last phase of trials.

"China is willing to strengthen cooperation with other countries in the research and development, production, and distribution of vaccines," President Xi Jinping told the G20 Summit.

"We will ... offer help and support to other developing countries, and work hard to make vaccines a public good that citizens of all countries can use and can afford," he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who lost the U.S. presidential election but has refused to concede to former Vice President Joe Biden, addressed G20 leaders briefly before going golfing. He discussed the need to work together to restore economic growth, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a summary released late on Saturday.

She made no mention of any U.S. pledge to support the global vaccine distribution effort. One European source said Trump`s remarks were focused on what he described as an unprecedented U.S. recovery and the U.S. drive to develop its own vaccines.

PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE

To prepare for future outbreaks, the EU is proposing a treaty on pandemics. "An international treaty would help us respond more quickly and in a more coordinated manner," European Council President Charles Michel told the G20.

While the global economy is recovering from the depths of the crisis, momentum is slowing in countries with resurgent infection rates and the pandemic is likely to leave deep scars, the International Monetary Fund said in a report for the summit.

Especially vulnerable are poor and highly indebted countries, which are "on the precipice of financial ruin and escalating poverty, hunger and untold suffering", United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday.

To address this, the G20 will endorse a plan to extend a freeze in debt service payments by the poorest countries to mid-2021 and endorse a common approach for dealing with debt problems beyond that, the draft communique said.

World Bank President David Malpass warned the G20 that failing to provide more permanent debt relief to some countries now could lead to increased poverty and a repeat of the disorderly defaults of the 1980s.

The G20 debt relief initiative has helped 46 countries defer $5.7 billion in debt service payments, but that is far short of the 73 countries that were eligible, and promised savings of around $12 billion. Private sector participation is seen as critical to ensuring broader use of the initiative.

Debt relief for Africa will be an important theme of the Italian presidency of the G20 in 2021.

Leaders of the 20 biggest economies on Saturday vowed to ensure a fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, drugs and tests around the world and do what was needed to support poorer countries struggling to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Leaders of the 20 biggest economies on Saturday vowed to ensure a fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, drugs and tests around the world and do what was needed to support poorer countries struggling to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. "We will spare no effort to ensure their affordable and equitable access for all people, consistent with members’ commitments to incentivize innovation," the leaders said in a draft G20 communique seen by Reuters. "We recognise the role of extensive immunization as a global public good." The twin crises of the pandemic and an uneven, uncertain global recovery dominated the first day of a two-day summit under the chairmanship of Saudi Arabia, which hands off the rotating presidency of the G20 to Italy next month. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has thrown the global economy into a deep recession this year, and efforts needed to underpin an economic rebound in 2021, were at the top of the agenda. "We must work to create the conditions for affordable and equitable access to these tools for all peoples," Saudi Arabia`s King Salman bin Abdulaziz said in his opening remarks. G20 leaders are concerned that the pandemic might further deepen global divisions between the rich and the poor. "We need to avoid at all costs a scenario of a two-speed world where only the richer can protect themselves against the virus and restart normal lives," French President Emmanuel Macron told the summit. To do that, the European Union urged G20 leaders quickly to put more money into a global project for vaccines, tests and therapeutics - called Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator - and its COVAX facility to distribute vaccines. "At the G20 Summit I called for $4.5 billion to be invested in ACT Accelerator by the end of 2020, for procurement & delivery of COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines everywhere," European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said on Twitter. "We need to show global solidarity," she said. Germany was contributing more than 500 million euros ($592.65 million) to the effort, Chancellor Angela Merkel told the G20, urging other countries to do their part, according to a text of her remarks. Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to provide Russia`s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to other countries and said Moscow was also preparing a second and third vaccine. China, where the pandemic originated a year ago, also offered to cooperate on vaccines. China has five home-grown candidates for a vaccine undergoing the last phase of trials. "China is willing to strengthen cooperation with other countries in the research and development, production, and distribution of vaccines," President Xi Jinping told the G20 Summit. "We will ... offer help and support to other developing countries, and work hard to make vaccines a public good that citizens of all countries can use and can afford," he said. U.S. President Donald Trump, who lost the U.S. presidential election but has refused to concede to former Vice President Joe Biden, addressed G20 leaders briefly before going golfing. He discussed the need to work together to restore economic growth, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a summary released late on Saturday. She made no mention of any U.S. pledge to support the global vaccine distribution effort. One European source said Trump`s remarks were focused on what he described as an unprecedented U.S. recovery and the U.S. drive to develop its own vaccines. PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE To prepare for future outbreaks, the EU is proposing a treaty on pandemics. "An international treaty would help us respond more quickly and in a more coordinated manner," European Council President Charles Michel told the G20. While the global economy is recovering from the depths of the crisis, momentum is slowing in countries with resurgent infection rates and the pandemic is likely to leave deep scars, the International Monetary Fund said in a report for the summit. Especially vulnerable are poor and highly indebted countries, which are "on the precipice of financial ruin and escalating poverty, hunger and untold suffering", United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday. To address this, the G20 will endorse a plan to extend a freeze in debt service payments by the poorest countries to mid-2021 and endorse a common approach for dealing with debt problems beyond that, the draft communique said. World Bank President David Malpass warned the G20 that failing to provide more permanent debt relief to some countries now could lead to increased poverty and a repeat of the disorderly defaults of the 1980s. The G20 debt relief initiative has helped 46 countries defer $5.7 billion in debt service payments, but that is far short of the 73 countries that were eligible, and promised savings of around $12 billion. Private sector participation is seen as critical to ensuring broader use of the initiative. Debt relief for Africa will be an important theme of the Italian presidency of the G20 in 2021.

G20 leaders seek to help poorest nations in post-COVID world

The United States recorded its 12th million COVID-19 case on Saturday, even as millions of Americans were expected to travel for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, ignoring warnings from health officials about furthering the spread of the infectious disease.

More than 12,010,000 cases of the coronavirus were reported, according to a Reuters tally of public health data, capping a series of days with record-breaking infections, with the Midwest experiencing one of the most dramatic increases in cases per capita.

The COVID-19 epidemic has claimed more than 255,000 lives in the United States - more than in any other nation - according to the Reuters tally - and the recent escalation has prompted more than 20 states to impose sweeping new restrictions this month to curb the virus.

Reuters data shows the pace of new U.S. infections has quickened, with nearly one million more cases recorded in just the last 6 days before the latest record. This compares with the 8 days it took to get from 10 million cases to 11 million, and the 10 days it took to get from 9 million to 10 million.

More than 1 million people flew through U.S. airports on Friday, according to data from the Transportation Security Administration, fueling fears of even greater spread of the virus. It was the second-heaviest domestic air traffic day since the start of the pandemic, despite pleas from health officials for Americans to stay home.

"This is the 2nd time since the pandemic passenger volume has surpassed 1 million," TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

Friday marked another milestone in the United States as the highest number of new COVID-19 cases was reported - 196,815 infections in a day.

Health officials have warned that the burgeoning wave of infections could soon overwhelm the healthcare system if people do not follow public health guidance, particularly around not traveling and mingling with other households for Thursday`s traditional Thanksgiving celebration.

Still, video footage on Twitter showed more than a hundred people, wearing masks, crowding departure gates at Sky Harbor airport in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday. Lines for TSA checkpoints and kiosks at Chicago O`Hare airport were also long on Friday and "reminiscent of pre-pandemic times," local TV station WGN reported.

The number of Thanksgiving air travelers was expected to decline by 47.5% from 2019, but nonetheless, 2.4 million people were forecast to take to the skies, according to a report earlier this month from the American Automobile Association. It said the number traveling by car was expected to fall by only about 4%.

"For those who are considering making a trip, the majority will go by car, which provides the flexibility to modify holiday travel plans up until the day of departure," AAA Senior Vice President Paula Twidale said in a statement.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has issued a "strong recommendation" to Americans to refrain from all kinds of travel over Thanksgiving.

"We`re alarmed with the exponential increase in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths," CDC official Henry Walke told reporters on Thursday.

Seven governors of Midwestern states- Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan - encouraged their residents to heed medical advice over the holidays and not to celebrate Thanksgiving with people outside their households.

In a video message, the governors also referred to the recent announcement from Pfizer Inc that its COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective. Pfizer said it would seek emergency-use authorization of its vaccine from U.S. regulators, the first such application.

"This is great news, but it doesn`t mean we can let our guard down," Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said.

The United States recorded its 12th million COVID-19 case on Saturday, even as millions of Americans were expected to travel for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, ignoring warnings from health officials about furthering the spread of the infectious disease.

The United States recorded its 12th million COVID-19 case on Saturday, even as millions of Americans were expected to travel for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, ignoring warnings from health officials about furthering the spread of the infectious disease. More than 12,010,000 cases of the coronavirus were reported, according to a Reuters tally of public health data, capping a series of days with record-breaking infections, with the Midwest experiencing one of the most dramatic increases in cases per capita. The COVID-19 epidemic has claimed more than 255,000 lives in the United States - more than in any other nation - according to the Reuters tally - and the recent escalation has prompted more than 20 states to impose sweeping new restrictions this month to curb the virus. Reuters data shows the pace of new U.S. infections has quickened, with nearly one million more cases recorded in just the last 6 days before the latest record. This compares with the 8 days it took to get from 10 million cases to 11 million, and the 10 days it took to get from 9 million to 10 million. More than 1 million people flew through U.S. airports on Friday, according to data from the Transportation Security Administration, fueling fears of even greater spread of the virus. It was the second-heaviest domestic air traffic day since the start of the pandemic, despite pleas from health officials for Americans to stay home. "This is the 2nd time since the pandemic passenger volume has surpassed 1 million," TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein wrote on Twitter on Saturday. Friday marked another milestone in the United States as the highest number of new COVID-19 cases was reported - 196,815 infections in a day. Health officials have warned that the burgeoning wave of infections could soon overwhelm the healthcare system if people do not follow public health guidance, particularly around not traveling and mingling with other households for Thursday`s traditional Thanksgiving celebration. Still, video footage on Twitter showed more than a hundred people, wearing masks, crowding departure gates at Sky Harbor airport in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday. Lines for TSA checkpoints and kiosks at Chicago O`Hare airport were also long on Friday and "reminiscent of pre-pandemic times," local TV station WGN reported. The number of Thanksgiving air travelers was expected to decline by 47.5% from 2019, but nonetheless, 2.4 million people were forecast to take to the skies, according to a report earlier this month from the American Automobile Association. It said the number traveling by car was expected to fall by only about 4%. "For those who are considering making a trip, the majority will go by car, which provides the flexibility to modify holiday travel plans up until the day of departure," AAA Senior Vice President Paula Twidale said in a statement. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has issued a "strong recommendation" to Americans to refrain from all kinds of travel over Thanksgiving. "We`re alarmed with the exponential increase in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths," CDC official Henry Walke told reporters on Thursday. Seven governors of Midwestern states- Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan - encouraged their residents to heed medical advice over the holidays and not to celebrate Thanksgiving with people outside their households. In a video message, the governors also referred to the recent announcement from Pfizer Inc that its COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective. Pfizer said it would seek emergency-use authorization of its vaccine from U.S. regulators, the first such application. "This is great news, but it doesn`t mean we can let our guard down," Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said.

US hits 12 million COVID-19 cases as many Americans defy Thanksgiving travel guidance

Besides the COVID-19 pandemic there are now reports of the bird flu outbreak in different parts of the Europe & in Belgium not just humans, but even birds have been put under a strict lockdown. WION brings you a report.

Spate of bird flu outbreak in Europe, Swans go into quarantine in Belgium

A substantial part of the Spanish population will be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the first half of 2021, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Friday, highlighting also a steadily slowing pace of contagion after restrictions imposed in recent weeks.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/despite-vaccine-breakthrough-social-distancing-and-wearing-masks-may-remain-344420" hreflang="en">Despite vaccine breakthrough, social distancing and wearing masks may remain</a>

The government has set aside over 1 billion euros for coronavirus vaccines next year and created a committee to establish who comes first.

Sanchez told a news conference the government would unveil a vaccination plan on Tuesday, without elaborating.

Promising data from Phase III trials of potential vaccines by Pfizer&nbsp;and BioNTech, Moderna&nbsp;and others has recently boosted hopes that vaccines against the pandemic disease may be ready for use soon.

Officials have said Spain hoped to get the first 20 million vaccine doses from Pfizer in early 2021. There is also a plan to buy 31.6 million doses of the vaccine being developed by Britain's AstraZeneca&nbsp;between December and June, if it is ready.

The vaccination would be free, according to Health Minister Salvador Illa.

Spain's death toll from the coronavirus rose by 328 to 42,619 on Friday, while cumulative cases rose by more than 15,000 to 1,556,730.

RESTRICTIONS

Spain, which has western Europe's second highest tally of infections after France, imposed a six-month state of emergency at the end of October, giving regions legal backing to impose curfews and restrict travel.

Sanchez said that path had proven to be adequate.

"For two consecutive weeks, we have seen new infections falling at a sustained pace," he said.

New infections measured over the past 14 days have fallen to 436 per 100,000 people from 530 in the first week of November, he said.

But there are no signs yet of restrictions being lifted.

The government of the Madrid region, one of Spain's worst-hit, said on Friday it would prevent people from leaving and entering for 10 days from Dec. 4 to avoid mass travel around the Dec. 6 Constitution Day holiday.

"We want to be in the best possible condition by Christmas," said Antonio Zapatero, head of Madrid's COVID-19 response.

New infections in Madrid have already fallen to less than 300 per 100,000 people from a peak of 800 in late September.

A substantial part of the Spanish population will be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the first half of 2021, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Friday, highlighting also a steadily slowing pace of contagion after restrictions imposed in recent weeks.

A substantial part of the Spanish population will be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the first half of 2021, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Friday, highlighting also a steadily slowing pace of contagion after restrictions imposed in recent weeks. Also read: Despite vaccine breakthrough, social distancing and wearing masks may remain The government has set aside over 1 billion euros for coronavirus vaccines next year and created a committee to establish who comes first. Sanchez told a news conference the government would unveil a vaccination plan on Tuesday, without elaborating. Promising data from Phase III trials of potential vaccines by Pfizer and BioNTech, Moderna and others has recently boosted hopes that vaccines against the pandemic disease may be ready for use soon. Officials have said Spain hoped to get the first 20 million vaccine doses from Pfizer in early 2021. There is also a plan to buy 31.6 million doses of the vaccine being developed by Britain's AstraZeneca between December and June, if it is ready. The vaccination would be free, according to Health Minister Salvador Illa. Spain's death toll from the coronavirus rose by 328 to 42,619 on Friday, while cumulative cases rose by more than 15,000 to 1,556,730. RESTRICTIONS Spain, which has western Europe's second highest tally of infections after France, imposed a six-month state of emergency at the end of October, giving regions legal backing to impose curfews and restrict travel. Sanchez said that path had proven to be adequate. "For two consecutive weeks, we have seen new infections falling at a sustained pace," he said. New infections measured over the past 14 days have fallen to 436 per 100,000 people from 530 in the first week of November, he said. But there are no signs yet of restrictions being lifted. The government of the Madrid region, one of Spain's worst-hit, said on Friday it would prevent people from leaving and entering for 10 days from Dec. 4 to avoid mass travel around the Dec. 6 Constitution Day holiday. "We want to be in the best possible condition by Christmas," said Antonio Zapatero, head of Madrid's COVID-19 response. New infections in Madrid have already fallen to less than 300 per 100,000 people from a peak of 800 in late September.

Spain eyes 'substantial' vaccination in first half 2021, contagion slows

With 45,882 new COVID-19 infections, India COVID-19 caseload surged above the 90-lakh mark on Friday.

According to the Health Ministry's Friday morning update, the total caseload in the country has risen to 90,04,366.

The death toll has mounted to 1,32,162 with 584 new deaths.

Total active cases are now at 4,43,794 after an increase of 491 in the last 24 hours while total discharged cases is 84,28,410 with 44,807 new discharges in the same period. 
 
Meanwhile, Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla on Thursday said the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine should be available for healthcare workers and elderly people by around February 2021 and by April for the general public, and will be priced at a maximum of ₹ 1,000 for two necessary doses for the public.

(With inputs from agencies)

With 45,882 new COVID-19 infections, India COVID-19 caseload surged above the 90-lakh mark on Friday. According to the Health Ministry's Friday morning update, the total caseload in the country has risen to 90,04,366.

With 45,882 new COVID-19 infections, India COVID-19 caseload surged above the 90-lakh mark on Friday. According to the Health Ministry's Friday morning update, the total caseload in the country has risen to 90,04,366. The death toll has mounted to 1,32,162 with 584 new deaths. Total active cases are now at 4,43,794 after an increase of 491 in the last 24 hours while total discharged cases is 84,28,410 with 44,807 new discharges in the same period. Meanwhile, Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla on Thursday said the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine should be available for healthcare workers and elderly people by around February 2021 and by April for the general public, and will be priced at a maximum of ₹ 1,000 for two necessary doses for the public. (With inputs from agencies)

India's COVID-19 cases top 90 lakh; active cases at 4.43 lakh

The World Health Organization has advised against the use of Gilead's remdesivir for patients hospitalised with Covid-19, saying there is a shortage of evidence that it improves the condition or reduces mortality.&nbsp;

"The ... panel found a lack of evidence that remdesivir improved outcomes that matter to patients such as reduced mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, time to clinical improvement, and others," the WHO guideline said, as quoted by news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-person-dying-every-17-seconds-in-europe-due-to-coronavirus-who-344188">One person dying every 17 seconds in Europe due to coronavirus: WHO</a>

The latest development is another setback for the drug that had grabbed headlines in the initial months of the pandemic as the potential treatment to coronavirus.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oxford-astrazeneca-vaccine-safe-for-older-adults-results-show-344093">Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine safe for older adults, results show</a>

It is one of the two medicines currently authorised to treat the deadly virus across the world, but a large-scale Solidarity Trial led by WHO found that it had little or no effect on 28-day mortality or duration of hospitalisation of Covid-19 patients.&nbsp;

However, the antiviral drug was also used to treat Donald Trump when he had contracted the virus, and previous studies had suggested that it reduces the time to recovery.&nbsp;

As many as 50 countries have authorised the use of remdesivir to treat coronavirus.&nbsp;

The WHO's Guideline Development Group (GDG) panel said its recommendation was backed by an evidence review that consisted of data from four international randomised trials of over 7,000 Covid-19 hospitalised patients.&nbsp;

It also said that evidence review found that the drug is costly and complex to administer and has very little efficacy.&nbsp;

"Especially given the costs and resource implications associated with remdesivir ...the panel felt the responsibility should be on demonstrating evidence of efficacy, which is not established by the currently available data," the panel said.&nbsp;

The World Health Organization has advised against the use of Gilead's remdesivir for patients hospitalised with Covid-19, saying there is a shortage of evidence that it improves the condition or reduces mortality.

The World Health Organization has advised against the use of Gilead's remdesivir for patients hospitalised with Covid-19, saying there is a shortage of evidence that it improves the condition or reduces mortality. "The ... panel found a lack of evidence that remdesivir improved outcomes that matter to patients such as reduced mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, time to clinical improvement, and others," the WHO guideline said, as quoted by news agency Reuters. Also read | One person dying every 17 seconds in Europe due to coronavirus: WHO The latest development is another setback for the drug that had grabbed headlines in the initial months of the pandemic as the potential treatment to coronavirus. Also read | Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine safe for older adults, results show It is one of the two medicines currently authorised to treat the deadly virus across the world, but a large-scale Solidarity Trial led by WHO found that it had little or no effect on 28-day mortality or duration of hospitalisation of Covid-19 patients. However, the antiviral drug was also used to treat Donald Trump when he had contracted the virus, and previous studies had suggested that it reduces the time to recovery. As many as 50 countries have authorised the use of remdesivir to treat coronavirus. The WHO's Guideline Development Group (GDG) panel said its recommendation was backed by an evidence review that consisted of data from four international randomised trials of over 7,000 Covid-19 hospitalised patients. It also said that evidence review found that the drug is costly and complex to administer and has very little efficacy. "Especially given the costs and resource implications associated with remdesivir ...the panel felt the responsibility should be on demonstrating evidence of efficacy, which is not established by the currently available data," the panel said.

WHO recommends against use of remdesivir for Covid-19 hospitalised patients

The first-ever virtual G20 summit that will take place on&nbsp;November 21 and 22 will see COVID-19 crisis dominating the agenda. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be representing India at the meet whose host is Saudi Arabia for this year. The summit is taking place virtually due to the pandemic.&nbsp;

A release by the ministry of external affairs said, "At the invitation of His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will be attending the 15th G20 Summit chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the theme 'Realising the Opportunities of 21st Century for All'&nbsp;on November 21-22, 2020."

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-luxembourg-summit-pm-modi-pitches-for-strengthening-relations-344172" hreflang="en">India-Luxembourg summit: PM Modi pitches for strengthening relations</a>

This is the second G20 summit this year, the first took place in March 2020 to take a coordinated approach by the world's top 20 economies to deal with the pandemic.

The MEA release explained, the focus of the upcoming G20 Summit will be on an "inclusive, resilient, and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19" with leaders discussing "pandemic preparedness and the ways and means to restore jobs."

From December 01, India will enter the G20 Troika, along with Saudi Arabia when Italy will take over the Presidency of the G-20. India will host the summit of the grouping in 2022.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-planning-musical-on-south-koreas-indian-queen-344050" hreflang="en">India planning musical on South Korea's Indian Queen</a>

Earlier this week, speaking to WION, India's Sherpa to the G20, Suresh Prabhu said, "We have started the preparation,&nbsp;in full swing. It is led by PM Modi, he is a very hands-on leader of the country and we are already working on very high-tech, very state-of-the-art efficient secretariat in which there will number of ministries participating."

G20 emerged after the 2008 financial crisis and increasingly growing its weightage as the United Nations is seen as dysfunctional due to lack of reforms to reflect the new geopolitical realities.

The first-ever virtual G20 summit that will take place on November 21 and 22 will see COVID-19 crisis dominating the agenda. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be representing India at the meet whose host is Saudi Arabia for this year.

The first-ever virtual G20 summit that will take place on November 21 and 22 will see COVID-19 crisis dominating the agenda. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be representing India at the meet whose host is Saudi Arabia for this year. The summit is taking place virtually due to the pandemic. A release by the ministry of external affairs said, "At the invitation of His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will be attending the 15th G20 Summit chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the theme 'Realising the Opportunities of 21st Century for All' on November 21-22, 2020." Also read| India-Luxembourg summit: PM Modi pitches for strengthening relations This is the second G20 summit this year, the first took place in March 2020 to take a coordinated approach by the world's top 20 economies to deal with the pandemic. The MEA release explained, the focus of the upcoming G20 Summit will be on an "inclusive, resilient, and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19" with leaders discussing "pandemic preparedness and the ways and means to restore jobs." From December 01, India will enter the G20 Troika, along with Saudi Arabia when Italy will take over the Presidency of the G-20. India will host the summit of the grouping in 2022. Also read| India planning musical on South Korea's Indian Queen Earlier this week, speaking to WION, India's Sherpa to the G20, Suresh Prabhu said, "We have started the preparation, in full swing. It is led by PM Modi, he is a very hands-on leader of the country and we are already working on very high-tech, very state-of-the-art efficient secretariat in which there will number of ministries participating." G20 emerged after the 2008 financial crisis and increasingly growing its weightage as the United Nations is seen as dysfunctional due to lack of reforms to reflect the new geopolitical realities.

COVID-19 crisis to dominate G20 summit

Nepal could be the new entrant to the list of countries with which India has an air bubble agreement in South Asia.&nbsp;

The ministry of external affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India is "exploring the possibility of an air bubble arrangement with Nepal." &nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/confident-that-covid-19-vaccine-will-be-ready-in-3-4-months-indias-health-minister-344051" hreflang="en">Confident that Covid-19 vaccine will be ready in 3-4 months: India's health minister</a>

India has an air bubble agreement with 22 countries globally. Within South Asia, the country has an air bubble agreement with Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives.

Air bubbles are an arrangement which has come amidst the COVID-19 pandemic impacting global air transport. Global air travel came to a grinding halt due to the pandemic. Aimed at restarting commercial passenger services, the transport bubbles are reciprocal in nature, and airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits. &nbsp;

Nepal could be the new entrant to the list of countries with which India has an air bubble agreement in South Asia. The ministry of external affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India is "exploring the possibility of an air bubble arrangement with Nepal.

Nepal could be the new entrant to the list of countries with which India has an air bubble agreement in South Asia. The ministry of external affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India is "exploring the possibility of an air bubble arrangement with Nepal." Also read| Confident that Covid-19 vaccine will be ready in 3-4 months: India's health minister India has an air bubble agreement with 22 countries globally. Within South Asia, the country has an air bubble agreement with Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. Air bubbles are an arrangement which has come amidst the COVID-19 pandemic impacting global air transport. Global air travel came to a grinding halt due to the pandemic. Aimed at restarting commercial passenger services, the transport bubbles are reciprocal in nature, and airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits.

India exploring for possibility on an air bubble agreement with Nepal

The United States top infectious disease official, Anthony Fauci, has vowed for the data of the two coronavirus vaccines being tested by&nbsp;Pfizer and Moderna.

Fauci spoke at a briefing from White House virus task force to talk about the rising concerns about the credibility of the two vaccines, given their speed of testing.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/confident-that-covid-19-vaccine-will-be-ready-in-3-4-months-indias-health-minister-344051">Confident that Covid-19 vaccine will be ready in 3-4 months: India's health minister</a>

Acknowledging the speed at which the two companies finished their successful trials, Fauci highlighted the advancement of the technology and quit wit of the scientists behind this success. "The process of the speed did not compromise at all safety nor did it compromise scientific integrity. It was a reflection of the extraordinary scientific advances in these types of vaccines which allowed us to do things in months that actually took years before," he said.

People all around the world are waiting for the production and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to start as soon as possible, as the deadly virus has already tens of millions of people across the globe.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oxford-astrazeneca-vaccine-safe-for-older-adults-results-show-344093">Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine safe for older adults, results show</a>

While people want to safeguard their lives and families' health through this, the vaccine has also become a political agenda in several countries — a quick way to gain voters' trust — such as the US and India.

Many are concerned these two vaccines have been rushed to meet political agendas of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">US elections</a>, in which <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;has defeated <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>. Fauci utilised this briefing to assure no such hindrance and manipulation has taken place in the whole process.

"It was actually an independent body of people who have no allegiance to anyone -- not to the administration, not to me, not to the companies -- that looked at the data and deemed it to be sound," he said. "So we need to put to rest any concept that this was rushed in an inappropriate way. This is really solid."

The United States top infectious disease official, Anthony Fauci, has vowed for the data of the two coronavirus vaccines being tested by Pfizer and Moderna. Fauci spoke at a briefing from White House virus task force to talk about the rising concerns about the credibility of the two vaccines, given their speed of testing.

The United States top infectious disease official, Anthony Fauci, has vowed for the data of the two coronavirus vaccines being tested by Pfizer and Moderna. Fauci spoke at a briefing from White House virus task force to talk about the rising concerns about the credibility of the two vaccines, given their speed of testing. Also read| Confident that Covid-19 vaccine will be ready in 3-4 months: India's health minister Acknowledging the speed at which the two companies finished their successful trials, Fauci highlighted the advancement of the technology and quit wit of the scientists behind this success. "The process of the speed did not compromise at all safety nor did it compromise scientific integrity. It was a reflection of the extraordinary scientific advances in these types of vaccines which allowed us to do things in months that actually took years before," he said. People all around the world are waiting for the production and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to start as soon as possible, as the deadly virus has already tens of millions of people across the globe. Also read| Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine safe for older adults, results show While people want to safeguard their lives and families' health through this, the vaccine has also become a political agenda in several countries — a quick way to gain voters' trust — such as the US and India. Many are concerned these two vaccines have been rushed to meet political agendas of the US elections, in which Joe Biden has defeated Donald Trump. Fauci utilised this briefing to assure no such hindrance and manipulation has taken place in the whole process. "It was actually an independent body of people who have no allegiance to anyone -- not to the administration, not to me, not to the companies -- that looked at the data and deemed it to be sound," he said. "So we need to put to rest any concept that this was rushed in an inappropriate way. This is really solid."

Fauci guarantees accuracy in Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccine data

COVID-19 shuffles world’s top 10 most expensive cities rankings

As the world was hit by the coronavirus pandemic at the beginning of this year, majority of the companies shifted to working from home to safeguard their employees from the deadly coronavirus. This included the social media giant Facebook.

However, now more than 200 Facebook content moderators have urged the social media company to provide better health and safety precautions for the workers, who have now been called back to the office.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/canada-facing-cyber-security-threat-from-china-russia-state-sponsored-programs-report-343994" hreflang="en">Canada facing cyber security threat from China, Russia state-sponsored programs: Report</a>

"After months of allowing content moderators to work from home, faced with intense pressure to keep Facebook free of hate and disinformation, you have forced us back to the office," said the open letter released by the British-based legal activist firm Foxglove.

The content moderators are responsible for keeping the platform free of hate speech and false information, which has played a very important role during the pandemic and the recently concluded <a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">US elections.</a>&nbsp;While the moderators were working from home till now, they have been called back to the office for more 'effective working'.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/tried-and-tested-twitter-launches-fleets-globally-after-successful-testing-in-india-343840" hreflang="en">Tried and tested: Twitter launches 'Fleets' globally after successful testing in India</a>

Moderators have signed a petition asking the Zuckerberg-led company to "keep moderators and their families safe" rather than exposing them to the deadly virus. The petitioners have requested for remote working to the highest possible limit, or at least offer"hazard pay" to the moderators who come to the office in the pandemic.

"We appreciate the valuable work content reviewers do and we prioritize their health and safety," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement to AFP.&nbsp;

"The majority of these 15,000 global content reviewers have been working from home and will continue to do so for the duration of the pandemic," the spokesperson said.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/apple-accused-of-tracking-iphone-users-without-consent-343572" hreflang="en">Apple accused of tracking iPhone users without consent</a>

The petitioners have said the current environment does call for human moderators, as the Artificial Intelligence has failed to match up to the standards and the company has now discovered limitations on what the employees can manage in remote working, after which they decided to turn to AI, which resulted in shortcomings.

"The AI wasn't up to the job. Important speech got swept into the maw of the Facebook filter -- and risky content, like self-harm, stayed up," the letter said.

"The lesson is clear. Facebook's algorithms are years away from achieving the necessary level of sophistication to moderate content automatically. They may never get there."

The moderators have also urged Facebook to turn the moderators to full-term employees.

As the world was hit by the coronavirus pandemic at the beginning of this year, majority of the companies shifted to working from home to safeguard their employees from the deadly coronavirus.

As the world was hit by the coronavirus pandemic at the beginning of this year, majority of the companies shifted to working from home to safeguard their employees from the deadly coronavirus. This included the social media giant Facebook. However, now more than 200 Facebook content moderators have urged the social media company to provide better health and safety precautions for the workers, who have now been called back to the office. Also read| Canada facing cyber security threat from China, Russia state-sponsored programs: Report "After months of allowing content moderators to work from home, faced with intense pressure to keep Facebook free of hate and disinformation, you have forced us back to the office," said the open letter released by the British-based legal activist firm Foxglove. The content moderators are responsible for keeping the platform free of hate speech and false information, which has played a very important role during the pandemic and the recently concluded US elections. While the moderators were working from home till now, they have been called back to the office for more 'effective working'. Also read| Tried and tested: Twitter launches 'Fleets' globally after successful testing in India Moderators have signed a petition asking the Zuckerberg-led company to "keep moderators and their families safe" rather than exposing them to the deadly virus. The petitioners have requested for remote working to the highest possible limit, or at least offer"hazard pay" to the moderators who come to the office in the pandemic. "We appreciate the valuable work content reviewers do and we prioritize their health and safety," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement to AFP. "The majority of these 15,000 global content reviewers have been working from home and will continue to do so for the duration of the pandemic," the spokesperson said. Also read| Apple accused of tracking iPhone users without consent The petitioners have said the current environment does call for human moderators, as the Artificial Intelligence has failed to match up to the standards and the company has now discovered limitations on what the employees can manage in remote working, after which they decided to turn to AI, which resulted in shortcomings. "The AI wasn't up to the job. Important speech got swept into the maw of the Facebook filter -- and risky content, like self-harm, stayed up," the letter said. "The lesson is clear. Facebook's algorithms are years away from achieving the necessary level of sophistication to moderate content automatically. They may never get there." The moderators have also urged Facebook to turn the moderators to full-term employees.

Facebook content moderators urge for safety precautions amid pandemic

Democratic Republic of Congo has announced the end of Ebola outbreak in western Equateur province, nearly six months after cases were reported and amid the rise of COVID-19 in the Central African nation.

DR Congo is now Ebola free says Health Minister

The promising news that not just one, but two coronavirus vaccines were more than 90% effective in early results has buoyed hopes that an end to the pandemic is in sight.

But even if the vaccines are authorized soon by federal regulators — the companies developing them have said they expect to apply soon — only a sliver of the American public will be able to get one by the end of the year. The two companies, Pfizer and Moderna, have estimated they will have 45 million doses, or enough to vaccinate 22.5 million Americans, by January.

Industry analysts and company executives are optimistic that hundreds of millions of doses will be made by next spring. But the companies — backed with billions of dollars in federal money — will have to overcome hurdles they have encountered in the early days of making vaccines. Moderna's and Pfizer’s vaccines use new technology that has never been approved for widespread use. They are ramping up into the millions for the first time. Other challenges include promptly securing raw vaccine ingredients and mastering the art of creating consistent, high-quality batches.

“The biology of scaling manufacturing is a very temperamental activity, and there were many, many different attempts over the months until we cracked it,” said Paul Mango, deputy chief of staff for policy at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Operation Warp Speed — the federal effort to accelerate vaccine development — set as a goal producing 300 million doses this year this year, but fell far short of that, reflecting just how difficult and unpredictable the manufacturing process has been.

“If that was an aspiration — of 300 million by the end of the year — I would say that was the biggest challenge that we had,” Mango said.

Pfizer said this summer that it expected to make 100 million doses by year’s end, but has now said it can produce only half that goal.

The more realistic timelines for manufacturing the vaccines are no surprise to those who closely follow the industry, even as these remarkable scientific and pharmaceutical feats have shattered speed records for vaccine development.

“They always used the same four words: in a perfect world,” said Steve Brozak, president and managing director of WBB Securities in Cranford, New Jersey, who invests in and researches companies that focus on infectious diseases.

“That world does not exist,” Brozak said. “Instead, we have a COVID world.”

One of the main goals of Operation Warp Speed was to work with drug companies to manufacture the vaccines even before clinical trials were completed, so that millions of doses would be ready to go if a vaccine was successful — something never before tried at this scale.

But it turns out, it’s a lot easier to make thousands of doses for a clinical trial than to churn out millions a month. Making vaccines is a complex, sometimes finicky process, requiring sterile conditions and precise control of temperature and humidity.

At the same time, the global scramble for vaccines is straining supplies of everything from stainless steel tanks to the custom-made plastic bags that line them.

Adding to the difficulty, Pfizer and Moderna are using a technology, involving genetic material known as messenger RNA, that allows scientists to quickly adapt the technique for new pathogens. But it has never been commercially manufactured.

“Manufacturing a biological product is a science and an art in some ways,” said Prashant Yadav, who studies health care supply chains at the Center for Global Development in Washington.

Moderna, a small Massachusetts company that has never brought a vaccine to market, has been careful in its estimates, predicting since the summer that it would have “tens of millions” of doses by the end of the year, with two doses required for each person to be fully immunized. Moderna has received more than $2 billion from the federal government to develop and manufacture 100 million doses, and the company has said it can supply about 20 million doses before January.

Unlike most of its competitors, Pfizer did not accept federal money to ramp up its manufacturing, instead agreeing to sell the government 100 million doses for $1.95 billion. It has made similar advance purchase agreements with Britain, Canada and Japan, among others.

Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer’s chief executive, has said the company can produce up to 50 million doses by the end of the year, and half of that supply will go to other countries. Because the vaccine requires two doses, there will initially be enough for only 12.5 million of 330 million Americans.

“Very important protection, but still a small part of the population,” Bourla told the news outlet Axios.

A Pfizer spokeswoman, Amy Rose, acknowledged that the company was falling short of its initial goals, partly because it had to order new equipment and obtain raw materials for the vaccine. In addition, when Pfizer expanded its trial to 44,000 from 30,000 people this fall, the push to make enough vaccine for thousands more volunteers diverted its attention from scaling up commercial production.

The company has since updated its production lines in the United States and Europe, Rose said, and it is confident in its ability to supply about 1.3 billion doses by the end of next year.

Some companies are developing vaccines that will likely be easier to mass produce than Pfizer’s and Moderna’s, but they have paused their clinical trials for safety reasons.

AstraZeneca said it had manufactured enough of its vaccine to meet its promise of hundreds of millions of doses by January, but a six-week pause in its trial meant that it probably wouldn’t get data on the performance of its vaccine in time to win federal authorization for its use this year.

The company’s chief executive, Pascal Soriot, recently told investors that it would fill the vials once it had a clearer picture of when the vaccine, which requires two doses, could be approved. “As soon as you turn this vaccine into vials, the shelf life starts ticking,” he said.

Vaccine maker Novavax — which had robust results in early studies and said it could supply the world with more than 2 billion doses next year — had to delay a large clinical trial by at least a month in part because of problems manufacturing tens of thousands of doses needed for the trial. The company has a $1.6 billion deal with the federal government to develop and manufacture its vaccine, which requires two doses.

In a statement, a Novavax spokeswoman said, “There are a number of things that can slow a trial start from the ideal plan, and it’s an immensely complex undertaking.” She said the company was ramping up manufacturing around the world.

Johnson &amp; Johnson, which started its clinical trial in September, later than its competitors, has said it is on track to manufacture 100 million doses of its single-dose vaccine by March and 1 billion by the end of next year. Its executives have said they do not expect trial results until early next year.

Still, even seasoned manufacturers can experience setbacks. Yadav, the supply chain expert, pointed to a shortage of flu vaccines in 2004, when a major manufacturer announced that 50 million doses, or half of the national supply for the United States, had been contaminated. “Those are risks that we will have to keep in mind,” he said.

The global race for a vaccine, as well as the pandemic’s disruption of factories and transportation, has severely taxed supply chains, causing delays or shortages for everything from glass vials to syringes.

James Robinson, who serves on the scientific advisory board for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation, which is helping to develop vaccines to supply low- and middle-income countries, said some companies have encountered delays because of shortages of custom-made plastic bags that line the stainless steel bioreactors where the vaccines are produced.

These bags function like the liners that chefs use for their slow cookers. Just like at home, the bags are removed when the batches are done, cutting down on the time needed to clean and sterilize the bioreactors.

But they are difficult to make, requiring their own complex supply chain. Several manufacturing experts said there were now weekslong delays in delivering them.

In October, the federal government awarded $31 million to the manufacturer Cytiva to expand production of vaccine supplies, like the bags and other equipment and ingredients. That was on top of the more than $1 billion the government awarded other supply-chain companies.

As the realities of vaccine manufacturing became clear, some federal health leaders, such as Moncef Slaoui, chief adviser to Operation Warp Speed, moderated their predictions in the late summer.

But others, including President Donald Trump, did not. He promised in October that a vaccine was only weeks away, and that it would go immediately to the general public. His chief of staff, Mark Meadows, said in September that 100 million doses would be available by October. At the same time, Trump slapped down some of his top health officials who laid out more realistic timelines.

Once additional vaccines are authorized — especially ones like Novavax that use older, more tried-and-true technologies — factories can begin churning out doses by the tens of millions.

Mango, of the Health and Human Services Department, said Operation Warp Speed is now estimating that, if several vaccines are authorized by the Food and Drug Administration in the next few months, the United States may have “several hundred million” doses available by the end of March, and then a few months after that, there might be enough for every American to receive a vaccine who wants one.

“Let’s not lose sight of the fact that never in the history of vaccine development has a vaccine been developed at scale in this period of time,” he said.

The promising news that not just one, but two coronavirus vaccines were more than 90% effective in early results has buoyed hopes that an end to the pandemic is in sight.

The promising news that not just one, but two coronavirus vaccines were more than 90% effective in early results has buoyed hopes that an end to the pandemic is in sight. But even if the vaccines are authorized soon by federal regulators — the companies developing them have said they expect to apply soon — only a sliver of the American public will be able to get one by the end of the year. The two companies, Pfizer and Moderna, have estimated they will have 45 million doses, or enough to vaccinate 22.5 million Americans, by January. Industry analysts and company executives are optimistic that hundreds of millions of doses will be made by next spring. But the companies — backed with billions of dollars in federal money — will have to overcome hurdles they have encountered in the early days of making vaccines. Moderna's and Pfizer’s vaccines use new technology that has never been approved for widespread use. They are ramping up into the millions for the first time. Other challenges include promptly securing raw vaccine ingredients and mastering the art of creating consistent, high-quality batches. “The biology of scaling manufacturing is a very temperamental activity, and there were many, many different attempts over the months until we cracked it,” said Paul Mango, deputy chief of staff for policy at the Department of Health and Human Services. Operation Warp Speed — the federal effort to accelerate vaccine development — set as a goal producing 300 million doses this year this year, but fell far short of that, reflecting just how difficult and unpredictable the manufacturing process has been. “If that was an aspiration — of 300 million by the end of the year — I would say that was the biggest challenge that we had,” Mango said. Pfizer said this summer that it expected to make 100 million doses by year’s end, but has now said it can produce only half that goal. The more realistic timelines for manufacturing the vaccines are no surprise to those who closely follow the industry, even as these remarkable scientific and pharmaceutical feats have shattered speed records for vaccine development. “They always used the same four words: in a perfect world,” said Steve Brozak, president and managing director of WBB Securities in Cranford, New Jersey, who invests in and researches companies that focus on infectious diseases. “That world does not exist,” Brozak said. “Instead, we have a COVID world.” One of the main goals of Operation Warp Speed was to work with drug companies to manufacture the vaccines even before clinical trials were completed, so that millions of doses would be ready to go if a vaccine was successful — something never before tried at this scale. But it turns out, it’s a lot easier to make thousands of doses for a clinical trial than to churn out millions a month. Making vaccines is a complex, sometimes finicky process, requiring sterile conditions and precise control of temperature and humidity. At the same time, the global scramble for vaccines is straining supplies of everything from stainless steel tanks to the custom-made plastic bags that line them. Adding to the difficulty, Pfizer and Moderna are using a technology, involving genetic material known as messenger RNA, that allows scientists to quickly adapt the technique for new pathogens. But it has never been commercially manufactured. “Manufacturing a biological product is a science and an art in some ways,” said Prashant Yadav, who studies health care supply chains at the Center for Global Development in Washington. Moderna, a small Massachusetts company that has never brought a vaccine to market, has been careful in its estimates, predicting since the summer that it would have “tens of millions” of doses by the end of the year, with two doses required for each person to be fully immunized. Moderna has received more than $2 billion from the federal government to develop and manufacture 100 million doses, and the company has said it can supply about 20 million doses before January. Unlike most of its competitors, Pfizer did not accept federal money to ramp up its manufacturing, instead agreeing to sell the government 100 million doses for $1.95 billion. It has made similar advance purchase agreements with Britain, Canada and Japan, among others. Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer’s chief executive, has said the company can produce up to 50 million doses by the end of the year, and half of that supply will go to other countries. Because the vaccine requires two doses, there will initially be enough for only 12.5 million of 330 million Americans. “Very important protection, but still a small part of the population,” Bourla told the news outlet Axios. A Pfizer spokeswoman, Amy Rose, acknowledged that the company was falling short of its initial goals, partly because it had to order new equipment and obtain raw materials for the vaccine. In addition, when Pfizer expanded its trial to 44,000 from 30,000 people this fall, the push to make enough vaccine for thousands more volunteers diverted its attention from scaling up commercial production. The company has since updated its production lines in the United States and Europe, Rose said, and it is confident in its ability to supply about 1.3 billion doses by the end of next year. Some companies are developing vaccines that will likely be easier to mass produce than Pfizer’s and Moderna’s, but they have paused their clinical trials for safety reasons. AstraZeneca said it had manufactured enough of its vaccine to meet its promise of hundreds of millions of doses by January, but a six-week pause in its trial meant that it probably wouldn’t get data on the performance of its vaccine in time to win federal authorization for its use this year. The company’s chief executive, Pascal Soriot, recently told investors that it would fill the vials once it had a clearer picture of when the vaccine, which requires two doses, could be approved. “As soon as you turn this vaccine into vials, the shelf life starts ticking,” he said. Vaccine maker Novavax — which had robust results in early studies and said it could supply the world with more than 2 billion doses next year — had to delay a large clinical trial by at least a month in part because of problems manufacturing tens of thousands of doses needed for the trial. The company has a $1.6 billion deal with the federal government to develop and manufacture its vaccine, which requires two doses. In a statement, a Novavax spokeswoman said, “There are a number of things that can slow a trial start from the ideal plan, and it’s an immensely complex undertaking.” She said the company was ramping up manufacturing around the world. Johnson & Johnson, which started its clinical trial in September, later than its competitors, has said it is on track to manufacture 100 million doses of its single-dose vaccine by March and 1 billion by the end of next year. Its executives have said they do not expect trial results until early next year. Still, even seasoned manufacturers can experience setbacks. Yadav, the supply chain expert, pointed to a shortage of flu vaccines in 2004, when a major manufacturer announced that 50 million doses, or half of the national supply for the United States, had been contaminated. “Those are risks that we will have to keep in mind,” he said. The global race for a vaccine, as well as the pandemic’s disruption of factories and transportation, has severely taxed supply chains, causing delays or shortages for everything from glass vials to syringes. James Robinson, who serves on the scientific advisory board for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation, which is helping to develop vaccines to supply low- and middle-income countries, said some companies have encountered delays because of shortages of custom-made plastic bags that line the stainless steel bioreactors where the vaccines are produced. These bags function like the liners that chefs use for their slow cookers. Just like at home, the bags are removed when the batches are done, cutting down on the time needed to clean and sterilize the bioreactors. But they are difficult to make, requiring their own complex supply chain. Several manufacturing experts said there were now weekslong delays in delivering them. In October, the federal government awarded $31 million to the manufacturer Cytiva to expand production of vaccine supplies, like the bags and other equipment and ingredients. That was on top of the more than $1 billion the government awarded other supply-chain companies. As the realities of vaccine manufacturing became clear, some federal health leaders, such as Moncef Slaoui, chief adviser to Operation Warp Speed, moderated their predictions in the late summer. But others, including President Donald Trump, did not. He promised in October that a vaccine was only weeks away, and that it would go immediately to the general public. His chief of staff, Mark Meadows, said in September that 100 million doses would be available by October. At the same time, Trump slapped down some of his top health officials who laid out more realistic timelines. Once additional vaccines are authorized — especially ones like Novavax that use older, more tried-and-true technologies — factories can begin churning out doses by the tens of millions. Mango, of the Health and Human Services Department, said Operation Warp Speed is now estimating that, if several vaccines are authorized by the Food and Drug Administration in the next few months, the United States may have “several hundred million” doses available by the end of March, and then a few months after that, there might be enough for every American to receive a vaccine who wants one. “Let’s not lose sight of the fact that never in the history of vaccine development has a vaccine been developed at scale in this period of time,” he said.

The vaccines will probably work. Making them fast will be the hard part.

Foreign brokerage Goldman Sachs on Tuesday upgraded its India GDP forecast to a contraction of 10.3 per cent in FY21, as against its earlier estimate of a negative growth of 14.8 per cent.

The US-based firm said developments on the vaccine front — where two candidates have posted satisfactory progress — will be very helpful in the recovery.

The Reserve Bank expects India's GDP to contract by 9.5 per cent on real basis in the ongoing fiscal because of the impact suffered by the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/coronavirus-mutations-appearing-in-siberia-russian-scientists-343820">Coronavirus mutations appearing in Siberia: Russian scientists</a>

The GDP will stage an impressive recovery in FY22, with a growth of 13 per cent on the low base and benefits of the vaccine, Goldman Sachs said in a report.

"There is still a high degree of uncertainty around the outlook - and growth could significantly overshoot or undershoot these forecasts - depending on the course taken by the virus and vaccine-related developments in the coming year," it said.

It expects a normalisation in the containment policies and mobility restrictions only in mid-2022, once a vaccine is deployed.

A meaningful rebound in economic activity will happen from 2021 itself, it said, adding that consumer-facing services sectors will stage a faster recovery.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chemicals-found-in-daily-use-products-could-decrease-covid-19-vaccines-effectiveness-reports-343850" hreflang="en">Chemicals found in daily-use products could decrease COVID-19 vaccine's effectiveness: Reports</a>

However, the pace of the rebound will be restrained by some "economic scarring", and a number of factors like a weak labour market, the hit to private sector incomes and balance sheets, tighter credit supply conditions and a limited impetus from fiscal policy, it said.

Headline inflation is likely to decline towards the mid-point of the RBI''s target band of 2-6 per cent by mid-2021 as food prices fall on easing supply restrictions, a benign monsoon and favourable base effects, it said.

Core inflation could also moderate given low manufacturing capacity utilisation and appreciation in the rupee.

This will result in the RB's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) cutting rates by 0.35 per cent next year, it said, adding that the panel with three new members has a dovish tilt.

The brokerage further said it will be overweight on Indian equities on the macro recovery and relatively higher sensitivity of Indian stocks to positive vaccine outcomes and added that appreciation pressures on the rupee will persist.

Foreign brokerage Goldman Sachs on Tuesday upgraded its India GDP forecast to a contraction of 10.3 per cent in FY21, as against its earlier estimate of a negative growth of 14.

Foreign brokerage Goldman Sachs on Tuesday upgraded its India GDP forecast to a contraction of 10.3 per cent in FY21, as against its earlier estimate of a negative growth of 14.8 per cent. The US-based firm said developments on the vaccine front — where two candidates have posted satisfactory progress — will be very helpful in the recovery. The Reserve Bank expects India's GDP to contract by 9.5 per cent on real basis in the ongoing fiscal because of the impact suffered by the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also read| Coronavirus mutations appearing in Siberia: Russian scientists The GDP will stage an impressive recovery in FY22, with a growth of 13 per cent on the low base and benefits of the vaccine, Goldman Sachs said in a report. "There is still a high degree of uncertainty around the outlook - and growth could significantly overshoot or undershoot these forecasts - depending on the course taken by the virus and vaccine-related developments in the coming year," it said. It expects a normalisation in the containment policies and mobility restrictions only in mid-2022, once a vaccine is deployed. A meaningful rebound in economic activity will happen from 2021 itself, it said, adding that consumer-facing services sectors will stage a faster recovery. Also read| Chemicals found in daily-use products could decrease COVID-19 vaccine's effectiveness: Reports However, the pace of the rebound will be restrained by some "economic scarring", and a number of factors like a weak labour market, the hit to private sector incomes and balance sheets, tighter credit supply conditions and a limited impetus from fiscal policy, it said. Headline inflation is likely to decline towards the mid-point of the RBI''s target band of 2-6 per cent by mid-2021 as food prices fall on easing supply restrictions, a benign monsoon and favourable base effects, it said. Core inflation could also moderate given low manufacturing capacity utilisation and appreciation in the rupee. This will result in the RB's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) cutting rates by 0.35 per cent next year, it said, adding that the panel with three new members has a dovish tilt. The brokerage further said it will be overweight on Indian equities on the macro recovery and relatively higher sensitivity of Indian stocks to positive vaccine outcomes and added that appreciation pressures on the rupee will persist.

Goldman Sachs ups India's eco forecast on vaccine progress, now expects 10.8 pc contraction in FY21

Britain has secured 5 million doses of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna Inc after it reported positive trial results, health minister Matt Hancock said on Monday (November 16), with the earliest doses expected for delivery in spring.

UK secures 5 million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

Moderna Inc said on Monday (November 16) its experimental vaccine was 94.5% effective in preventing COVID-19 based on interim data from a late-stage clinical trial, becoming the second U.S. company in a week to report results that far exceed expectations.

Moderna says coronavirus vaccine 94.5% effective

Mouthwash demonstrated virucidal properties that can kill deadly coronavirus within 30 seconds of being exposed to it, according to an experimental study.

According to the researchers, mouthwashes have the potential to reduce the oral “viral load” of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, among those suffering from the illness.

The preliminary result comes ahead of a clinical trial into whether using over-the-counter mouthwash has the potential to reduce the levels of Covid-19 in a patient's saliva.

The research, which was conducted at Cardiff University, found that mouthwashes containing 0.07% of the ingredient cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPC) showed "promising signs" of reducing COVID-19.

Dentyl will be the only UK mouthwash brand used in the trial, and the findings will be published in early 2021.

Meanwhile, the coronavirus death toll worldwide has reached 1.32 million, with 9,797 fatalities being recorded over the past day.

(With inputs from agencies)

Mouthwash demonstrated virucidal properties that can kill deadly coronavirus within 30 seconds of being exposed to it, according to an experimental study. According to the researchers, mouthwashes have the potential to reduce the oral “viral load” of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, among those suffering from the illness.

Mouthwash demonstrated virucidal properties that can kill deadly coronavirus within 30 seconds of being exposed to it, according to an experimental study. According to the researchers, mouthwashes have the potential to reduce the oral “viral load” of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, among those suffering from the illness. The preliminary result comes ahead of a clinical trial into whether using over-the-counter mouthwash has the potential to reduce the levels of Covid-19 in a patient's saliva. The research, which was conducted at Cardiff University, found that mouthwashes containing 0.07% of the ingredient cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPC) showed "promising signs" of reducing COVID-19. Dentyl will be the only UK mouthwash brand used in the trial, and the findings will be published in early 2021. Meanwhile, the coronavirus death toll worldwide has reached 1.32 million, with 9,797 fatalities being recorded over the past day. (With inputs from agencies)

Mouthwash can kill coronavirus within 30 seconds: Study

A new study led by researchers at the Queen Mary University of London uses a novel approach to investigate the effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the risk of COVID-19 infection.

Several observational studies have reported the link between cardiovascular risk factors (such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol) and COVID-19 severity. However, these studies could not ascertain the cause and effect relationship due to the observational design.

The new study, published in the science journal Frontiers in Genetics, used a novel approach called 'Mendelian Randomisation', which leveraged on the individual genetic information, to investigate the effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the risk of COVID-19 infection.

Lead author Dr Nay Aung from the Queen Mary University of London said: "Our results show that individuals with high body mass index (BMI), a marker of obesity, and high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (also known as 'bad' cholesterol) are at an increased risk of getting COVID-19. Other cardiovascular risk factors (high blood pressure and diabetes) do not appear to elevate the COVID-19 risk.

"Our findings support the use of BMI and LDL cholesterol as important metrics alongside other known characteristics (such as age and ethnicity) in the risk assessment of vulnerability to COVID-19 infection."

The findings may have an impact on public health policy, whereby those who fall in the at-risk obese category or those with extreme hyperlipidemia in the general population may require more rigorous social distancing or shielding.

Furthermore, studies assessing the role of cholesterol modification therapy during illness or hospital admission could be undertaken to assess the potential impact on outcomes.

A new study led by researchers at the Queen Mary University of London uses a novel approach to investigate the effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the risk of COVID-19 infection.

A new study led by researchers at the Queen Mary University of London uses a novel approach to investigate the effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the risk of COVID-19 infection. Several observational studies have reported the link between cardiovascular risk factors (such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol) and COVID-19 severity. However, these studies could not ascertain the cause and effect relationship due to the observational design. The new study, published in the science journal Frontiers in Genetics, used a novel approach called 'Mendelian Randomisation', which leveraged on the individual genetic information, to investigate the effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the risk of COVID-19 infection. Lead author Dr Nay Aung from the Queen Mary University of London said: "Our results show that individuals with high body mass index (BMI), a marker of obesity, and high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (also known as 'bad' cholesterol) are at an increased risk of getting COVID-19. Other cardiovascular risk factors (high blood pressure and diabetes) do not appear to elevate the COVID-19 risk. "Our findings support the use of BMI and LDL cholesterol as important metrics alongside other known characteristics (such as age and ethnicity) in the risk assessment of vulnerability to COVID-19 infection." The findings may have an impact on public health policy, whereby those who fall in the at-risk obese category or those with extreme hyperlipidemia in the general population may require more rigorous social distancing or shielding. Furthermore, studies assessing the role of cholesterol modification therapy during illness or hospital admission could be undertaken to assess the potential impact on outcomes.

Obese people found to be at increased risk of COVID-19

Moderna says its vaccine is 94.5% effective in preventing COVID-19

The Covid-19 caseload stood at 54,992,571 on Tuesday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Global coronavirus cases near 55 million

The governor of California said he was activating an “emergency brake” and applying tougher coronavirus restrictions.

Covid-19 update: Emergency declared in California as cases double in 10 days

Delhi recorded over one lakh new coronavirus cases and around 1,200 deaths between November 1-16 while nearly 94,000 COVID-19 patients recovered during the same period, according to official data released on Tuesday.

The national capital has witnessed a sudden spike in coronavirus cases since October 28 when the daily rise breached the 5,000-mark for the first time and it crossed the 8,000-mark on November 11. On November 12, 104 coronavirus-related deaths, the highest in over five months, were recorded in the city. According to health department data, 1,01,070 coronavirus cases have been recorded so far this month.

Also, 1,202 people have died of COVID-19 while 93,885 coronavirus patients have recovered from the virus since November 1. Delhi had recorded 5,664 cases on November 1 which increased to 8,593 on November 11, the highest-single-day spike till date. The city had recorded 7,053 new cases on November 12, followed by 7,802 (November 13), 7,340 (November 14), 3,235 (November 15) and 3,797 (November 16). From November 11-16, the fatality count stood at 85; 104; 91; 96; 95 and 99 respectively.

Similarly, 7,606 COVID-19 patients had recovered on November 15, the highest single-day recovery count this month. On Wednesday, 7,264 people had recovered from virus while on Thursday, 6,462 people recovered. From November 13-16, the recovery count stood at 6,498; 7,117; 7,606 and 3,560.

On Monday, Delhi recorded 3,797 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the infection tally in the national capital to over 4.89 lakh, even as 99 new fatalities pushed the toll to 7,713. These relatively low number of fresh cases came out of the 29,871 tests conducted on Sunday. The active cases tally on Monday stood at 40,128.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sought power from the Centre to impose lockdown in those markets which may emerge as COVID-19 hotspots, and decided to withdraw an order allowing 200 guests to attend wedding functions. Kejriwal said the Delhi government has sent a proposal to Lt Governor Anil Baijal to allow only 50 people to attend wedding ceremonies against the earlier limit of 200.

Delhi recorded over one lakh new coronavirus cases and around 1,200 deaths between November 1-16 while nearly 94,000 COVID-19 patients recovered during the same period, according to official data released on Tuesday.

Delhi recorded over one lakh new coronavirus cases and around 1,200 deaths between November 1-16 while nearly 94,000 COVID-19 patients recovered during the same period, according to official data released on Tuesday. The national capital has witnessed a sudden spike in coronavirus cases since October 28 when the daily rise breached the 5,000-mark for the first time and it crossed the 8,000-mark on November 11. On November 12, 104 coronavirus-related deaths, the highest in over five months, were recorded in the city. According to health department data, 1,01,070 coronavirus cases have been recorded so far this month. Also, 1,202 people have died of COVID-19 while 93,885 coronavirus patients have recovered from the virus since November 1. Delhi had recorded 5,664 cases on November 1 which increased to 8,593 on November 11, the highest-single-day spike till date. The city had recorded 7,053 new cases on November 12, followed by 7,802 (November 13), 7,340 (November 14), 3,235 (November 15) and 3,797 (November 16). From November 11-16, the fatality count stood at 85; 104; 91; 96; 95 and 99 respectively. Similarly, 7,606 COVID-19 patients had recovered on November 15, the highest single-day recovery count this month. On Wednesday, 7,264 people had recovered from virus while on Thursday, 6,462 people recovered. From November 13-16, the recovery count stood at 6,498; 7,117; 7,606 and 3,560. On Monday, Delhi recorded 3,797 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the infection tally in the national capital to over 4.89 lakh, even as 99 new fatalities pushed the toll to 7,713. These relatively low number of fresh cases came out of the 29,871 tests conducted on Sunday. The active cases tally on Monday stood at 40,128. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sought power from the Centre to impose lockdown in those markets which may emerge as COVID-19 hotspots, and decided to withdraw an order allowing 200 guests to attend wedding functions. Kejriwal said the Delhi government has sent a proposal to Lt Governor Anil Baijal to allow only 50 people to attend wedding ceremonies against the earlier limit of 200.

COVID-19: Delhi sees 1 lakh new cases; 1,200 deaths; 94,000 recoveries since Nov 1

Pfizer Inc, after announcing that its vaccine is 90 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19 has now launched its first delivery programme for vaccines in the United States.

The Pfizer vaccine requires ultra-cold storage during transporting and administration - a challenge the company is attempting to tackle in this delivery programme.

Pfizer’s vaccine requires ultra-cold storage, making its transportation expensive and sometimes logistically difficult, especially for delivery in far-off countries. Pfizer’s vaccine needs to be shipped and stored at -70 degree celsius, akin to the temperatures in Antarctica during winters. In standard refrigeration conditions, it may be stored for upto 5 days.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/lead-scientist-behind-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-ugur-sahin-says-life-will-not-return-to-normal-till-next-winter-343465" hreflang="en">Lead scientist behind Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, Ugur Sahin, says life will not return to normal till next winter</a>

"We are hopeful that results from this vaccine delivery pilot will serve as the model for other US&nbsp;states and international governments, as they prepare to implement effective COVID-19 vaccine programs," Pfizer announced in a statement on Monday.

The company has picked Rhode Island, New Mexico, Texas, and Tennessee for the pilot programme. They took into account the size, diversity in population, infrastructure for immunisation, among many factors.

However, Pfizer added that the four states will not receive doses of vaccine before other states, and will not receive preferential treatment.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/volunteers-face-severe-hangover-headache-and-pain-after-getting-pfizer-vaccine-shot-342518" hreflang="en">Volunteers face 'severe hangover', headache and pain after getting Pfizer vaccine shot</a>

By the third week of November, the company will have more data on the effectiveness of the virus, when its late-stage trials end.

After this, the company will apply for emergency use authorisation.

Pfizer Inc, after announcing that its vaccine is 90 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19 has now launched its first delivery programme for vaccines in the United States.

Pfizer Inc, after announcing that its vaccine is 90 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19 has now launched its first delivery programme for vaccines in the United States. The Pfizer vaccine requires ultra-cold storage during transporting and administration - a challenge the company is attempting to tackle in this delivery programme. Pfizer’s vaccine requires ultra-cold storage, making its transportation expensive and sometimes logistically difficult, especially for delivery in far-off countries. Pfizer’s vaccine needs to be shipped and stored at -70 degree celsius, akin to the temperatures in Antarctica during winters. In standard refrigeration conditions, it may be stored for upto 5 days. Also read: Lead scientist behind Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, Ugur Sahin, says life will not return to normal till next winter "We are hopeful that results from this vaccine delivery pilot will serve as the model for other US states and international governments, as they prepare to implement effective COVID-19 vaccine programs," Pfizer announced in a statement on Monday. The company has picked Rhode Island, New Mexico, Texas, and Tennessee for the pilot programme. They took into account the size, diversity in population, infrastructure for immunisation, among many factors. However, Pfizer added that the four states will not receive doses of vaccine before other states, and will not receive preferential treatment. Also read: Volunteers face 'severe hangover', headache and pain after getting Pfizer vaccine shot By the third week of November, the company will have more data on the effectiveness of the virus, when its late-stage trials end. After this, the company will apply for emergency use authorisation.

Pfizer to begin vaccine delivery programme in four US states

The firm has claimed that so far results suggest the vaccine has a 94.5% effectiveness against the disease.

UK secures 5 Million doses of potential vaccine by Moderna

As the news by top coronavirus vaccine candidate Moderna is creating a lot of buzz, the World Health Organization chief has called it "encouraging", but warned that "complacency" must be avoided.&nbsp;

"This is no time for complacency," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a virtual briefing on Monday, as quoted by news agency AFP.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-moderna-says-its-covid-19-vaccine-is-over-94-effective-343541/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"This is a dangerous virus, which can attack every system in the body. Those countries that are letting the virus run unchecked are playing with fire."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-data-from-modernas-experimental-vaccine-is-truly-groundbreaking-343529">Why data from Moderna's experimental vaccine is truly groundbreaking</a>

The pharma company released early results from a clinical trial which included 30,000 participants after Americ's Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech last week said their Covid-19 vaccine was 90 per cent effective.&nbsp;

Earlier, hopes rose on Monday amid Covid-19's grim after news broke that Moderna's vaccine was found to be about 95 per cent effective in a trial.&nbsp;

The pharma company released early results from a clinical trial which included 30,000 participants after America's Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech last week said their Covid-19 vaccine was 90 per cent effective.&nbsp;

"This positive interim analysis from our Phase 3 study has given us the first clinical validation that our vaccine can prevent COVID-19 disease, including severe disease," said Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel.

However, the WHO chief has said that finding the vaccine "will not end the pandemic".

As the news by top coronavirus vaccine candidate Moderna is creating a lot of buzz, the World Health Organization chief has called it "encouraging", but warned that "complacency" must be avoided.

As the news by top coronavirus vaccine candidate Moderna is creating a lot of buzz, the World Health Organization chief has called it "encouraging", but warned that "complacency" must be avoided. "This is no time for complacency," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a virtual briefing on Monday, as quoted by news agency AFP. Watch | "This is a dangerous virus, which can attack every system in the body. Those countries that are letting the virus run unchecked are playing with fire." Also read | Why data from Moderna's experimental vaccine is truly groundbreaking The pharma company released early results from a clinical trial which included 30,000 participants after Americ's Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech last week said their Covid-19 vaccine was 90 per cent effective. Earlier, hopes rose on Monday amid Covid-19's grim after news broke that Moderna's vaccine was found to be about 95 per cent effective in a trial. The pharma company released early results from a clinical trial which included 30,000 participants after America's Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech last week said their Covid-19 vaccine was 90 per cent effective. "This positive interim analysis from our Phase 3 study has given us the first clinical validation that our vaccine can prevent COVID-19 disease, including severe disease," said Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel. However, the WHO chief has said that finding the vaccine "will not end the pandemic".

Covid-19 vaccine news 'encouraging', but no time for 'complacency': WHO chief

Co-founder of BIONTECH Prof.Ugur Sahin tells that everything will get normal by winter 2021, the professor said that the vaccine will show results in summer 2021 and normalcy could return in winter 2021

Co-founder of BIONTECH  tells about another ray of hope in fight against COVID-19

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