A number of Indian states and cities have re-imposed some lockdown restrictions amid year-end festivities to ensure that infections remain in check.

The number of coronavirus cases rose to 1,01,46,845 on Friday with 23,067 new infections being reported in a day, while total recoveries crossed 97 lakh, according to Union Health Ministry data.

The death toll increased to 1,47,092 with 336 new fatalities, the data at 8 am showed.

The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 97,17,834 during the same period, pushing the national recovery rate to 95.77 per cent.

The case fatality rate stood at 1.45 per cent.

The active caseload remained below three lakh for the fourth consecutive day.

There are 2,81,919 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 2.78 per cent of the total caseload, the data showed.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, and 50 lakh on September 16.

It went past 60 lakh on September 28 and crossed the one-crore mark on December 19.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 16,63,05,762 samples have been tested for detection of COVID-19 up to December 24 with 9,97,396 samples being tested on Thursday itself.

Of the 336 new fatalities, 89 were reported from Maharashtra, 37 from Delhi, 32 from West Bengal, and 22 each from Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh.

Of the total deaths reported in the country so far, Maharashtra accounted for the highest 49,058 fatalities, followed by 12,039 from Karnataka, 12,036 from Tamil Nadu, 10,384 from Delhi, 9,505 from West Bengal, 8,267 from Uttar Pradesh, 7,089 from Andhra Pradesh and 5,260 from Punjab.

"Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

(With inputs from agencies)

A number of Indian states and cities have re-imposed some lockdown restrictions amid year-end festivities to ensure that infections remain in check. The number of coronavirus cases rose to 1,01,46,845 on Friday with 23,067 new infections being reported in a day, while total recoveries crossed 97 lakh, according to Union Health Ministry data.

A number of Indian states and cities have re-imposed some lockdown restrictions amid year-end festivities to ensure that infections remain in check. The number of coronavirus cases rose to 1,01,46,845 on Friday with 23,067 new infections being reported in a day, while total recoveries crossed 97 lakh, according to Union Health Ministry data. The death toll increased to 1,47,092 with 336 new fatalities, the data at 8 am showed. The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 97,17,834 during the same period, pushing the national recovery rate to 95.77 per cent. The case fatality rate stood at 1.45 per cent. The active caseload remained below three lakh for the fourth consecutive day. There are 2,81,919 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 2.78 per cent of the total caseload, the data showed. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28 and crossed the one-crore mark on December 19. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 16,63,05,762 samples have been tested for detection of COVID-19 up to December 24 with 9,97,396 samples being tested on Thursday itself. Of the 336 new fatalities, 89 were reported from Maharashtra, 37 from Delhi, 32 from West Bengal, and 22 each from Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh. Of the total deaths reported in the country so far, Maharashtra accounted for the highest 49,058 fatalities, followed by 12,039 from Karnataka, 12,036 from Tamil Nadu, 10,384 from Delhi, 9,505 from West Bengal, 8,267 from Uttar Pradesh, 7,089 from Andhra Pradesh and 5,260 from Punjab. "Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation. (With inputs from agencies)

India reports 23,068 new coronavirus cases, 336 deaths in last 24 hours

President Donald Trump’s denunciation of the $900 billion coronavirus relief deal drove a wedge through the Republican Party on Wednesday, drawing harsh criticism from House Republicans and threatening the delivery of unemployment checks, a reprieve on evictions and direct payments to struggling Americans.

His four-minute video on Tuesday night demanding significant changes to the bill and larger direct stimulus checks also threw a wrench into his party’s push to hold the Senate with victories in two runoff races in Georgia next month. The Republican candidates he pledged to support went from campaigning on their triumphant votes for the relief bill to facing questions on Trump’s view that the measure was a “disgrace.”

Their Democratic rivals appeared to turn a liability into a political advantage 13 days before the election on Jan. 5, agreeing with the president’s demand for $2,000 direct payment checks and calling for Republicans to accede to his wish. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top Democrats prepared to move forward on Thursday with new legislation that would provide the $2,000 checks, daring Republicans to break with the president and block passage of the bill in the House.

But the effect on struggling Americans was perhaps the most profound: With no deal signed by the president, some unemployment programs are set to run out this week, and several other critical provisions are to end this month. The uncertainty that Trump injected into the process came at a perilous moment for the economy, as consumer spending and personal incomes resumed their slides.

“Does the president realize that unemployment benefits expire the day after Christmas?” an exasperated Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. and one of the key negotiators of the package, wrote on Twitter.

It is not clear whether Trump, who is furious at congressional Republicans who have acknowledged his election defeat, would actually veto the package. But given how late it is in the 116th Congress, even refusing to sign it could ensure that the bill dies with the Congress on Jan. 3 and must be taken up all over again next year.

The 5,593-page spending package would not only provide relief but also fund the government through September. With his threat, the president raised the prospects of a government shutdown beyond Monday and also jeopardized a promise of swift relief to millions of struggling Americans and businesses.

Trump on Wednesday also made good on his promise to veto a major defense policy bill, in part because it directed the military to strip the names of Confederate generals from bases. That sets up a showdown for next week; when the House returns on Monday for the override vote, it could also vote on another stopgap spending bill to prevent government funding from lapsing.

Before the turmoil, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had promised that $600 direct payments from the pandemic relief bill could be distributed as early as next week; that is an untenable timeline without Trump’s signature. The end to two expanded unemployment programs the day after Christmas could push nearly 5 million people into poverty virtually overnight, according to an estimate from researchers at Columbia University.

Some state labor departments — which administer both state and federal unemployment benefits — are already preparing for the end of the programs because of the delay in reaching an agreement, meaning some jobless workers may temporarily lose their benefits all the same because many states will not be able to reverse course in time to avoid a lapse in payments.

Frustration with Trump boiled over on Wednesday during a private conference call of House Republicans who had loyally stood by the president; many of them had joined a baseless lawsuit to try to overturn the results of election. Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the Republican leader, told members that he had spoken to the president and that he had not yet committed to a veto of the bill.

But McCarthy conceded, “This bill has been tainted,” according to one person on the call.

In his videotaped statement on Tuesday, Trump accused lawmakers of putting aid for foreign governments before the needs of the American people.

Some lawmakers on the call complained about the pork projects in the spending measure; others chimed in to challenge the characterization of the projects as pork, and one longtime House Republican vented generally about voter perceptions of the package after Trump’s scathing critique.

“I don’t know if we recover from this,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., according to three officials on the call. “We will have a hell of a time getting this out of people’s head.”

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said Trump had thrown House Republicans under the bus, according to a person on the call. In a statement afterward, Bacon said, “I stand by what I said,” adding that “the COVID supplemental is a good compromise, and the president should take it."

Focused first on the general election and then on baseless attempts to reverse its outcome, Trump has largely been sidelined from the negotiations, instead dispatching Mnuchin as his main emissary.

During a private meeting with top Republicans and top Democrats to discuss the emerging relief deal, Pelosi at one point pressed Mnuchin, on speakerphone in her conference room, four times to articulate the president’s position on direct payments. “Come on, Steven,” she said when he refused to say, according to one person familiar with the meeting, who disclosed it on the condition of anonymity.

Now, in undercutting the negotiations that Mnuchin led for the White House and throwing passage of the $2.3 trillion package into limbo with little warning to top Republicans on Capitol Hill, Trump has increased the likelihood that the party will bear the brunt of the blame for the continuing delay in providing relief to Americans.

The coronavirus relief package would provide the first significant infusion of federal aid since April, when Trump signed a $1.4 trillion government funding package. In rejecting it, the president would also derail some of his own priorities tucked into the measure, like funding for his wall at the southwestern border, funding for the Pentagon and an agreement to ban surprise medical bills, which his administration had previously urged lawmakers to pass. A number of the funding provisions Trump singled out in the catchall omnibus also aligned with requests he had made in his own budget proposal.

Republicans would again be forced to choose between their party’s leadership in Congress — McCarthy and Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who helped negotiate the final details of the stimulus deal — and a president known to savage anyone he views as disloyal.

Trump’s demands also provided a political gift to Democratic leadership, who have faced criticism for accepting a $900 billion relief package with $600 direct payments after months of pushing multiple multitrillion-dollar proposals that would have set the payments to twice that amount.

With the House set to convene on Christmas Eve in a so-called pro forma session — typically a brief meeting that requires one lawmaker to be present and lasts for a few minutes — Democrats plan to bring up a stand-alone bill that would provide for $2,000 direct payments to American families and ensure that the omnibus is signed. Should that request fail without unanimous consent, Democrats plan to formally bring the bill up for a vote on Monday, according to two people familiar with the plans.

“Just when you think you have seen it all, last night, the president said that he would possibly veto the bicameral agreement negotiated between Republicans and Democrats,” Pelosi wrote in a letter to Democratic colleagues. She noted that if Trump “truly wants to join us in $2,000 payments,” he should urge Republicans to allow the unanimous consent request to go through.

In a letter to House Republicans late Wednesday, McCarthy indicated that the party would put forward its own unanimous request to revisit the portion of the omnibus spending bill that funds the State Department and other related agencies. He charged that Democrats had “conveniently ignored the concerns expressed by the president” about those funds. (That legislation had also secured the support of 128 Republicans when it passed the House on Monday.)

But the Democratic argument could prove particularly potent in Georgia, where the Democratic challengers in the two runoff races have locked arms to call on their Republican opponents, Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, to support the $2,000 direct payments.

Jon Ossoff, Perdue’s Democratic opponent, posted to Twitter a series of memes and videos mocking the $600 payments supported by Republican leadership.

Raphael Warnock, Loeffler’s opponent, said in a statement, “As I’ve said from the start, the Senate should have acted on this months ago, and support for Georgians should have been far greater.” He continued: “Donald Trump is right, Congress should swiftly increase direct payments to $2,000. Once and for all, Sen. Loeffler should do what’s best for Georgia instead of focusing on what she can do for herself.”

But some Republicans, including the most outspoken House conservatives, are continuing to lobby Trump to veto the legislation.

“Republicans are in grave danger if they continue to do the very swamp crap the president ran against,” Rep. Chip Roy of Texas said in an interview, noting that it made it harder to run against Democrats as socialists when “establishment Republicans are passing massive spending and programs they then complain about.”

Roy said that if Trump vetoed the measure, lawmakers could devise a bill extending paycheck protection for businesses, hash out a compromise on unemployment benefits and direct payments, and pass legislation keeping the government open until the new Congress decided on spending levels next year. But few other lawmakers said they believed Congress would reconvene to craft a new measure during the holidays.

Michael Steele, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee and a critic of the president, noted that the foreign aid proposals to which the president was objecting were proposed by his own administration.

“The Republicans are getting punked again by the guy they shilled for, who does not care about their interests or any principle they stand for,” Steele said. “He made a four-minute video in the White House ranting about things his own administration did, and meanwhile some mom is trying to figure out how she can avoid eviction and get Christmas presents under the tree for her kids. That’s the heartbreaking part.”

Republicans in the two chambers were already at odds over the election results.

Many of the Senate Republicans are ready to move on from the Trump era while House Republicans, including the top leadership, signed on to a brief supporting a Texas lawsuit in hopes that the Supreme Court would overturn the results.

McConnell has tried to shut down the prospect of blocking the Electoral College results in the Senate next month, but House Republican leaders have not done anything in public to discourage hard-liners from trying such a move in the Democratic-controlled chamber. After Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Republican, told reporters this week that such an effort “would go down like a shot dog” in the Senate, Trump tweeted on Tuesday: “South Dakota doesn’t like weakness. He will be primaried in 2022, political career over!!!”

President Donald Trump’s denunciation of the $900 billion coronavirus relief deal drove a wedge through the Republican Party on Wednesday, drawing harsh criticism from House Republicans and threatening the delivery of unemployment checks, a reprieve on evictions and direct payments to struggling Americans.

President Donald Trump’s denunciation of the $900 billion coronavirus relief deal drove a wedge through the Republican Party on Wednesday, drawing harsh criticism from House Republicans and threatening the delivery of unemployment checks, a reprieve on evictions and direct payments to struggling Americans. His four-minute video on Tuesday night demanding significant changes to the bill and larger direct stimulus checks also threw a wrench into his party’s push to hold the Senate with victories in two runoff races in Georgia next month. The Republican candidates he pledged to support went from campaigning on their triumphant votes for the relief bill to facing questions on Trump’s view that the measure was a “disgrace.” Their Democratic rivals appeared to turn a liability into a political advantage 13 days before the election on Jan. 5, agreeing with the president’s demand for $2,000 direct payment checks and calling for Republicans to accede to his wish. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top Democrats prepared to move forward on Thursday with new legislation that would provide the $2,000 checks, daring Republicans to break with the president and block passage of the bill in the House. But the effect on struggling Americans was perhaps the most profound: With no deal signed by the president, some unemployment programs are set to run out this week, and several other critical provisions are to end this month. The uncertainty that Trump injected into the process came at a perilous moment for the economy, as consumer spending and personal incomes resumed their slides. “Does the president realize that unemployment benefits expire the day after Christmas?” an exasperated Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. and one of the key negotiators of the package, wrote on Twitter. It is not clear whether Trump, who is furious at congressional Republicans who have acknowledged his election defeat, would actually veto the package. But given how late it is in the 116th Congress, even refusing to sign it could ensure that the bill dies with the Congress on Jan. 3 and must be taken up all over again next year. The 5,593-page spending package would not only provide relief but also fund the government through September. With his threat, the president raised the prospects of a government shutdown beyond Monday and also jeopardized a promise of swift relief to millions of struggling Americans and businesses. Trump on Wednesday also made good on his promise to veto a major defense policy bill, in part because it directed the military to strip the names of Confederate generals from bases. That sets up a showdown for next week; when the House returns on Monday for the override vote, it could also vote on another stopgap spending bill to prevent government funding from lapsing. Before the turmoil, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had promised that $600 direct payments from the pandemic relief bill could be distributed as early as next week; that is an untenable timeline without Trump’s signature. The end to two expanded unemployment programs the day after Christmas could push nearly 5 million people into poverty virtually overnight, according to an estimate from researchers at Columbia University. Some state labor departments — which administer both state and federal unemployment benefits — are already preparing for the end of the programs because of the delay in reaching an agreement, meaning some jobless workers may temporarily lose their benefits all the same because many states will not be able to reverse course in time to avoid a lapse in payments. Frustration with Trump boiled over on Wednesday during a private conference call of House Republicans who had loyally stood by the president; many of them had joined a baseless lawsuit to try to overturn the results of election. Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the Republican leader, told members that he had spoken to the president and that he had not yet committed to a veto of the bill. But McCarthy conceded, “This bill has been tainted,” according to one person on the call. In his videotaped statement on Tuesday, Trump accused lawmakers of putting aid for foreign governments before the needs of the American people. Some lawmakers on the call complained about the pork projects in the spending measure; others chimed in to challenge the characterization of the projects as pork, and one longtime House Republican vented generally about voter perceptions of the package after Trump’s scathing critique. “I don’t know if we recover from this,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., according to three officials on the call. “We will have a hell of a time getting this out of people’s head.” Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said Trump had thrown House Republicans under the bus, according to a person on the call. In a statement afterward, Bacon said, “I stand by what I said,” adding that “the COVID supplemental is a good compromise, and the president should take it." Focused first on the general election and then on baseless attempts to reverse its outcome, Trump has largely been sidelined from the negotiations, instead dispatching Mnuchin as his main emissary. During a private meeting with top Republicans and top Democrats to discuss the emerging relief deal, Pelosi at one point pressed Mnuchin, on speakerphone in her conference room, four times to articulate the president’s position on direct payments. “Come on, Steven,” she said when he refused to say, according to one person familiar with the meeting, who disclosed it on the condition of anonymity. Now, in undercutting the negotiations that Mnuchin led for the White House and throwing passage of the $2.3 trillion package into limbo with little warning to top Republicans on Capitol Hill, Trump has increased the likelihood that the party will bear the brunt of the blame for the continuing delay in providing relief to Americans. The coronavirus relief package would provide the first significant infusion of federal aid since April, when Trump signed a $1.4 trillion government funding package. In rejecting it, the president would also derail some of his own priorities tucked into the measure, like funding for his wall at the southwestern border, funding for the Pentagon and an agreement to ban surprise medical bills, which his administration had previously urged lawmakers to pass. A number of the funding provisions Trump singled out in the catchall omnibus also aligned with requests he had made in his own budget proposal. Republicans would again be forced to choose between their party’s leadership in Congress — McCarthy and Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who helped negotiate the final details of the stimulus deal — and a president known to savage anyone he views as disloyal. Trump’s demands also provided a political gift to Democratic leadership, who have faced criticism for accepting a $900 billion relief package with $600 direct payments after months of pushing multiple multitrillion-dollar proposals that would have set the payments to twice that amount. With the House set to convene on Christmas Eve in a so-called pro forma session — typically a brief meeting that requires one lawmaker to be present and lasts for a few minutes — Democrats plan to bring up a stand-alone bill that would provide for $2,000 direct payments to American families and ensure that the omnibus is signed. Should that request fail without unanimous consent, Democrats plan to formally bring the bill up for a vote on Monday, according to two people familiar with the plans. “Just when you think you have seen it all, last night, the president said that he would possibly veto the bicameral agreement negotiated between Republicans and Democrats,” Pelosi wrote in a letter to Democratic colleagues. She noted that if Trump “truly wants to join us in $2,000 payments,” he should urge Republicans to allow the unanimous consent request to go through. In a letter to House Republicans late Wednesday, McCarthy indicated that the party would put forward its own unanimous request to revisit the portion of the omnibus spending bill that funds the State Department and other related agencies. He charged that Democrats had “conveniently ignored the concerns expressed by the president” about those funds. (That legislation had also secured the support of 128 Republicans when it passed the House on Monday.) But the Democratic argument could prove particularly potent in Georgia, where the Democratic challengers in the two runoff races have locked arms to call on their Republican opponents, Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, to support the $2,000 direct payments. Jon Ossoff, Perdue’s Democratic opponent, posted to Twitter a series of memes and videos mocking the $600 payments supported by Republican leadership. Raphael Warnock, Loeffler’s opponent, said in a statement, “As I’ve said from the start, the Senate should have acted on this months ago, and support for Georgians should have been far greater.” He continued: “Donald Trump is right, Congress should swiftly increase direct payments to $2,000. Once and for all, Sen. Loeffler should do what’s best for Georgia instead of focusing on what she can do for herself.” But some Republicans, including the most outspoken House conservatives, are continuing to lobby Trump to veto the legislation. “Republicans are in grave danger if they continue to do the very swamp crap the president ran against,” Rep. Chip Roy of Texas said in an interview, noting that it made it harder to run against Democrats as socialists when “establishment Republicans are passing massive spending and programs they then complain about.” Roy said that if Trump vetoed the measure, lawmakers could devise a bill extending paycheck protection for businesses, hash out a compromise on unemployment benefits and direct payments, and pass legislation keeping the government open until the new Congress decided on spending levels next year. But few other lawmakers said they believed Congress would reconvene to craft a new measure during the holidays. Michael Steele, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee and a critic of the president, noted that the foreign aid proposals to which the president was objecting were proposed by his own administration. “The Republicans are getting punked again by the guy they shilled for, who does not care about their interests or any principle they stand for,” Steele said. “He made a four-minute video in the White House ranting about things his own administration did, and meanwhile some mom is trying to figure out how she can avoid eviction and get Christmas presents under the tree for her kids. That’s the heartbreaking part.” Republicans in the two chambers were already at odds over the election results. Many of the Senate Republicans are ready to move on from the Trump era while House Republicans, including the top leadership, signed on to a brief supporting a Texas lawsuit in hopes that the Supreme Court would overturn the results. McConnell has tried to shut down the prospect of blocking the Electoral College results in the Senate next month, but House Republican leaders have not done anything in public to discourage hard-liners from trying such a move in the Democratic-controlled chamber. After Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Republican, told reporters this week that such an effort “would go down like a shot dog” in the Senate, Trump tweeted on Tuesday: “South Dakota doesn’t like weakness. He will be primaried in 2022, political career over!!!”

Trump’s attack on Coronavirus relief divides GOP and threatens recovery

The ongoing trend of contraction in India's COVID-19 active infections has led to shrinking of the share of active cases in the total caseload to 2.8 per cent, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.

The tally of an active case of the disease in the country stands at 2,83,849 as on date.

"A net decline of 5,391 cases from the total active caseload was registered in the last 24 hours," the ministry said.

Daily recoveries have outnumbered the daily new cases after nearly a month (27 days), it said.

"In a span of 24 hours, only 24,712 persons were found to be COVID positive in the country. During the same period, 29,791 new recoveries were registered to ensure drop-in the active caseload," the ministry stated.

"India has recorded less than 30,000 daily new cases continuously since the last 11 days," it said.

Total recoveries are nearing 97 lakhs (96,93,173). The ministry said that 79. 56 per cent of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 states and union territories.

Maharashtra has reported the highest number of 7,620 single-day recoveries, followed by 4,808 in Kerala and 2,153 in West Bengal in a span of 24 hours.

The ministry said 76.

48 per cent of the new cases are from 10 states and UTs.

Kerala reports the highest number of 6,169 daily new cases, followed by Maharashtra and West Bengal with 3,913 and 1,628 infections respectively.

The number of case fatalities reported in a span of 24 hours stands at 312.

Ten states and UTs account for 79.81 per cent of the new deaths.

Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (93).

West Bengal and Kerala reported 34 and 22 new deaths respectively.

Daily deaths in India are on a sustained decline.

The daily death count has remained below 400 for 12 days, the ministry said in a statement.

The ongoing trend of contraction in India's COVID-19 active infections has led to shrinking of the share of active cases in the total caseload to 2.8 per cent, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.

The ongoing trend of contraction in India's COVID-19 active infections has led to shrinking of the share of active cases in the total caseload to 2.8 per cent, the Union health ministry said on Thursday. The tally of an active case of the disease in the country stands at 2,83,849 as on date. "A net decline of 5,391 cases from the total active caseload was registered in the last 24 hours," the ministry said. Daily recoveries have outnumbered the daily new cases after nearly a month (27 days), it said. "In a span of 24 hours, only 24,712 persons were found to be COVID positive in the country. During the same period, 29,791 new recoveries were registered to ensure drop-in the active caseload," the ministry stated. "India has recorded less than 30,000 daily new cases continuously since the last 11 days," it said. Total recoveries are nearing 97 lakhs (96,93,173). The ministry said that 79. 56 per cent of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 states and union territories. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of 7,620 single-day recoveries, followed by 4,808 in Kerala and 2,153 in West Bengal in a span of 24 hours. The ministry said 76. 48 per cent of the new cases are from 10 states and UTs. Kerala reports the highest number of 6,169 daily new cases, followed by Maharashtra and West Bengal with 3,913 and 1,628 infections respectively. The number of case fatalities reported in a span of 24 hours stands at 312. Ten states and UTs account for 79.81 per cent of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (93). West Bengal and Kerala reported 34 and 22 new deaths respectively. Daily deaths in India are on a sustained decline. The daily death count has remained below 400 for 12 days, the ministry said in a statement.

India's COVID-19 active cases now comprise only 2.8 per cent of total caseload

A parliamentary panel on Thursday recommended putting athletes, coaches and support staff going for the 2021 Japan Olympics in the priority group for the COVID-19 vaccination process.

The committee also voiced concern over a large number of vacancies of coaches, saying they should be filled up in a time-bound manner so that Olympic preparations do not suffer.

The Japan Olympics are slated to be held from July next year.

The panel has also recommended identifying training facilities, stadia and sports centres for Olympic qualified athletes which have not opened yet.

It said the closed centres should be reopened "at the earliest" or the athletes should be relocated to alternate centres which have opened.

The department-related parliamentary standing committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports headed by Vinay P Sahasrabuddhe submitted its report on "Preparation for Olympics 2021" to Rajya Sabha Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu through virtual mode.

The report said medical staff and other medical equipment such as X-Ray and MRI machines should be made available within select Sports Authority of India and other training centres.

"This will ensure that athletes do not lose any time for treatment and recovery. This will also keep them from travelling to hospitals where the chances of contracting COVID are the highest," it observed.

The panel pointed out that due to coronavirus-triggered lockdown and travel restrictions, there was loss of international and national competition exposure which has hugely affected the training of the athletes.

"The department and National Sports Federations must ensure that players get an opportunity to play maximum international tournaments before the 2021 Olympic games."

"International competitions should be accorded priority as they prepare athletes for pressure situations they may find themselves in during actual Olympics," it said.

The committee observed that travelling to faraway tournaments is a big challenge for athletes.

Countries such as &nbsp;France and Germany that host tournaments at home, have produced more champions, it pointed out.

"India should host more international tournaments so that players can reduce travel to collect more points and move up the ranking ladder.

Also, a larger number of athletes can benefit from the same amount that India spends on sending athletes abroad for exposure," the report observed.

The standing committee also recommended the creation of "bio-bubbles" in training facilities so that "athletes can be isolated in a secure environment and train with minimal possibility of being infected."

It proposed giving individualised programmes to athletes capable of reaching finals or medal hopefuls and also providing for sending them abroad as soon as possible in a "bubble environment" where top scientific infrastructure is available.

It also noted that several foreign coaches resigned and returned to their respective countries in the course of the pandemic.

Besides, most sporting disciplines have foreign experts who are either 65 or above.

Those above 65 were asked by the bodies of their respective sports to not visit training venues.

"About 561 vacancies exist of coaches. This is unacceptable. These should be filled up within a specific time-bound manner so that Olympic preparations don't suffer," it said.

On the COVID-19 vaccination, it said athletes, as well as coaches and support staff going for the Olympics, should be put in the priority group for the vaccination process.

A parliamentary panel on Thursday recommended putting athletes, coaches and support staff going for the 2021 Japan Olympics in the priority group for the COVID-19 vaccination process.

A parliamentary panel on Thursday recommended putting athletes, coaches and support staff going for the 2021 Japan Olympics in the priority group for the COVID-19 vaccination process. The committee also voiced concern over a large number of vacancies of coaches, saying they should be filled up in a time-bound manner so that Olympic preparations do not suffer. The Japan Olympics are slated to be held from July next year. The panel has also recommended identifying training facilities, stadia and sports centres for Olympic qualified athletes which have not opened yet. It said the closed centres should be reopened "at the earliest" or the athletes should be relocated to alternate centres which have opened. The department-related parliamentary standing committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports headed by Vinay P Sahasrabuddhe submitted its report on "Preparation for Olympics 2021" to Rajya Sabha Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu through virtual mode. The report said medical staff and other medical equipment such as X-Ray and MRI machines should be made available within select Sports Authority of India and other training centres. "This will ensure that athletes do not lose any time for treatment and recovery. This will also keep them from travelling to hospitals where the chances of contracting COVID are the highest," it observed. The panel pointed out that due to coronavirus-triggered lockdown and travel restrictions, there was loss of international and national competition exposure which has hugely affected the training of the athletes. "The department and National Sports Federations must ensure that players get an opportunity to play maximum international tournaments before the 2021 Olympic games." "International competitions should be accorded priority as they prepare athletes for pressure situations they may find themselves in during actual Olympics," it said. The committee observed that travelling to faraway tournaments is a big challenge for athletes. Countries such as France and Germany that host tournaments at home, have produced more champions, it pointed out. "India should host more international tournaments so that players can reduce travel to collect more points and move up the ranking ladder. Also, a larger number of athletes can benefit from the same amount that India spends on sending athletes abroad for exposure," the report observed. The standing committee also recommended the creation of "bio-bubbles" in training facilities so that "athletes can be isolated in a secure environment and train with minimal possibility of being infected." It proposed giving individualised programmes to athletes capable of reaching finals or medal hopefuls and also providing for sending them abroad as soon as possible in a "bubble environment" where top scientific infrastructure is available. It also noted that several foreign coaches resigned and returned to their respective countries in the course of the pandemic. Besides, most sporting disciplines have foreign experts who are either 65 or above. Those above 65 were asked by the bodies of their respective sports to not visit training venues. "About 561 vacancies exist of coaches. This is unacceptable. These should be filled up within a specific time-bound manner so that Olympic preparations don't suffer," it said. On the COVID-19 vaccination, it said athletes, as well as coaches and support staff going for the Olympics, should be put in the priority group for the vaccination process.

Athletes, coaches going for Olympics should be in a priority group for COVID-19 vaccine: Panel

The Church of the Nativity was closed, and most souvenir shops shuttered. Hotels that are usually sold out months in advance were deserted.

Among the few signs of life on the main street in Bethlehem’s Old City last Friday were the chirping of a few birds and stray cats scavenging an overflowing garbage can.

Earlier in the month, only a few people attended the tree-lighting ceremony in Manger Square, an event that usually heralds the metamorphosis of the quiet West Bank town of Bethlehem into one of the main seasonal attractions of international Christendom.

The coronavirus pandemic has put a damper on Christmas at the place where it is said to have all begun.

“Great sadness,” Father Ibrahim Shomali, the chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said of this year’s celebrations. “We are very frustrated, but what can we do? We need to accept the reality and do the right thing.”

Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity is usually one of the social events of the year on the occupied West Bank. The ancient limestone church takes on the atmosphere of a glittering movie premiere as diplomats and Palestinian officials emerge from motorcades of shiny BMWs and Mercedes in tailored suits and elegant dresses.

This year, the ceremony will be limited to church officials, a handful of European diplomats and Bethlehem’s mayor. The Palestinian Authority imposed tough antivirus restrictions on Bethlehem on Dec. 10, setting up checkpoints around its perimeter, ordering the closing of restaurants, cafes, schools and gyms, and forbidding nearly all large gatherings.

Bethlehem has about 1,000 confirmed, active cases of COVID-19, according to official data, although the true number is thought to be much higher. All intensive care beds at hospitals are occupied, the Health Ministry said.

During a recent visit, the expansive lobby of the 222-room Bethlehem Hotel was silent. The leather couches and chairs were empty, the lights and heating were turned off, and a fine coating of dust was collecting on coffee tables.

“There’s usually nowhere to sit during this time of year,” said Elias al-Arja, the hotel owner, wearing a winter coat and a large black mask. “It ordinarily gets so crowded that there’s little room to move.”

Since March, when authorities discovered the first cases of the virus in the Bethlehem area, al-Arja said, the hotel has struggled to pay its debts. He had to lay off all but two of his 80 employees. He said he has sold his second home in Ramallah and a plot of land in Jericho to pay off debts.

“It’s been devastating,” he said.

Until the pandemic, the tourism industry in the West Bank, which relies heavily on the Christmastime business in Bethlehem, was anticipating its best year in two decades. The West Bank had more than 3 million visitors last year, tourism officials said.

And despite competition from Israeli tour providers and the challenges of doing business under occupation, Palestinian travel and tourism companies were hiring, offering new itineraries and predicting continued growth for 2020.

“We went from our highest to lowest point,” said Tony Khashram, the head of the Holy Land Incoming Tour Operators Association. “Everything fell apart in the snap of a finger.”

Tens of thousands of people in the tourism industry — including tour guides, tour operators, souvenir shop owners, and restaurant and hotel workers — have lost their jobs, the Tourism Ministry estimates. Tour operators are struggling to pay off debts and to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments due from partners abroad.

Retailers, too, have been devastated. The few merchants who opened their shops said the absence of tourists this year has sharpened their feelings of exasperation over the pandemic’s economic fallout.

“The whole world came during Christmas last year,” said Sami Khamis, whose hole-in-the-wall tea shop near Manger Square offers a specialty tea with whole pieces of fresh sage, ginger, mint, rosemary and cinnamon. “But I’m now hardly making enough money to put food on the table. This is a disastrous situation.”

The seven or eight nearby souvenir shops — which usually do a brisk trade in kaffiyehs, baby Jesus dolls on beds of straw, and olivewood crosses embedded with a vial of soil from the Mount of Olives — were all closed.

In his office overlooking the Church of the Nativity, Mayor Anton Salman said he was sad that Bethlehem would not celebrate Christmas as it normally does, but he emphasized that public health was paramount. He contracted the virus last month.

“We’ve experienced difficult circumstances during Christmas in the past,” he said, alluding to previous violent conflicts with Israel. “But the pandemic is something quite different — there are so many unknowns.”

He said the city would not abandon its traditions, just scale them down.

The Christmas Market in Manger Square, he said, was held for a single day, on Sunday, instead of the usual two. The audience for the annual scouts parade, in which dozens of boys and girls march through Bethlehem on Christmas Eve playing Palestinian anthems and Christmas songs, will be limited to local residents.

“We don’t feel like Christmas is happening,” said Lorette Zoughbi, 66, who watched the tree-lighting on television although it took place just up the street from her apartment. “There’s no special atmosphere. These days feel like any other days that come and go.”

Bethlehem’s Christians, who are mostly Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, were once the majority. But the Christian population has dwindled through emigration while the Muslim population has grown. Now Bethlehem, like all Palestinian cities in the West Bank, is predominantly Muslim.

Zoughbi, a member of a prominent Christian family in Bethlehem, has felt so bereft of Christmas spirit that she and her husband did not even bother to pull their full-sized tree out of storage. Instead, they stuck a small metal one in a corner of their apartment.

For many Palestinian Christians, the worst part of this Christmas season is having to cancel extended-family gatherings.

Zoughbi’s clan usually gathers for a dinner of qidreh, a rice and lamb dish, at a large restaurant with 150 of her relatives, often followed by an evening of drumming and singing Arabic Christmas songs.

“These are some of the only times we all come together,” she said.

Nihaya Musleh, a resident of Beit Sahour, immediately east of Bethlehem, said she had planned to host Harumiya, a local tradition in which men — or, as in her case, the family matriarch — invite their married daughters and sisters home for a special meal 40 days before Christmas.

Musleh said she and her son had invited 28 family members to her home for a luncheon, promising to enforce social distancing.

But after she spent two days cooking, Musleh said, her daughter-in-law tested positive for the virus, so she called it off.

“I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t unhappy about missing out on Harumiya,” she said. “But I’m glad we found out about the positive test the day before — it was a gift from God.”

The Church of the Nativity was closed, and most souvenir shops shuttered. Hotels that are usually sold out months in advance were deserted. Among the few signs of life on the main street in Bethlehem’s Old City last Friday were the chirping of a few birds and stray cats scavenging an overflowing garbage can.

The Church of the Nativity was closed, and most souvenir shops shuttered. Hotels that are usually sold out months in advance were deserted. Among the few signs of life on the main street in Bethlehem’s Old City last Friday were the chirping of a few birds and stray cats scavenging an overflowing garbage can. Earlier in the month, only a few people attended the tree-lighting ceremony in Manger Square, an event that usually heralds the metamorphosis of the quiet West Bank town of Bethlehem into one of the main seasonal attractions of international Christendom. The coronavirus pandemic has put a damper on Christmas at the place where it is said to have all begun. “Great sadness,” Father Ibrahim Shomali, the chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said of this year’s celebrations. “We are very frustrated, but what can we do? We need to accept the reality and do the right thing.” Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity is usually one of the social events of the year on the occupied West Bank. The ancient limestone church takes on the atmosphere of a glittering movie premiere as diplomats and Palestinian officials emerge from motorcades of shiny BMWs and Mercedes in tailored suits and elegant dresses. This year, the ceremony will be limited to church officials, a handful of European diplomats and Bethlehem’s mayor. The Palestinian Authority imposed tough antivirus restrictions on Bethlehem on Dec. 10, setting up checkpoints around its perimeter, ordering the closing of restaurants, cafes, schools and gyms, and forbidding nearly all large gatherings. Bethlehem has about 1,000 confirmed, active cases of COVID-19, according to official data, although the true number is thought to be much higher. All intensive care beds at hospitals are occupied, the Health Ministry said. During a recent visit, the expansive lobby of the 222-room Bethlehem Hotel was silent. The leather couches and chairs were empty, the lights and heating were turned off, and a fine coating of dust was collecting on coffee tables. “There’s usually nowhere to sit during this time of year,” said Elias al-Arja, the hotel owner, wearing a winter coat and a large black mask. “It ordinarily gets so crowded that there’s little room to move.” Since March, when authorities discovered the first cases of the virus in the Bethlehem area, al-Arja said, the hotel has struggled to pay its debts. He had to lay off all but two of his 80 employees. He said he has sold his second home in Ramallah and a plot of land in Jericho to pay off debts. “It’s been devastating,” he said. Until the pandemic, the tourism industry in the West Bank, which relies heavily on the Christmastime business in Bethlehem, was anticipating its best year in two decades. The West Bank had more than 3 million visitors last year, tourism officials said. And despite competition from Israeli tour providers and the challenges of doing business under occupation, Palestinian travel and tourism companies were hiring, offering new itineraries and predicting continued growth for 2020. “We went from our highest to lowest point,” said Tony Khashram, the head of the Holy Land Incoming Tour Operators Association. “Everything fell apart in the snap of a finger.” Tens of thousands of people in the tourism industry — including tour guides, tour operators, souvenir shop owners, and restaurant and hotel workers — have lost their jobs, the Tourism Ministry estimates. Tour operators are struggling to pay off debts and to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments due from partners abroad. Retailers, too, have been devastated. The few merchants who opened their shops said the absence of tourists this year has sharpened their feelings of exasperation over the pandemic’s economic fallout. “The whole world came during Christmas last year,” said Sami Khamis, whose hole-in-the-wall tea shop near Manger Square offers a specialty tea with whole pieces of fresh sage, ginger, mint, rosemary and cinnamon. “But I’m now hardly making enough money to put food on the table. This is a disastrous situation.” The seven or eight nearby souvenir shops — which usually do a brisk trade in kaffiyehs, baby Jesus dolls on beds of straw, and olivewood crosses embedded with a vial of soil from the Mount of Olives — were all closed. In his office overlooking the Church of the Nativity, Mayor Anton Salman said he was sad that Bethlehem would not celebrate Christmas as it normally does, but he emphasized that public health was paramount. He contracted the virus last month. “We’ve experienced difficult circumstances during Christmas in the past,” he said, alluding to previous violent conflicts with Israel. “But the pandemic is something quite different — there are so many unknowns.” He said the city would not abandon its traditions, just scale them down. The Christmas Market in Manger Square, he said, was held for a single day, on Sunday, instead of the usual two. The audience for the annual scouts parade, in which dozens of boys and girls march through Bethlehem on Christmas Eve playing Palestinian anthems and Christmas songs, will be limited to local residents. “We don’t feel like Christmas is happening,” said Lorette Zoughbi, 66, who watched the tree-lighting on television although it took place just up the street from her apartment. “There’s no special atmosphere. These days feel like any other days that come and go.” Bethlehem’s Christians, who are mostly Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, were once the majority. But the Christian population has dwindled through emigration while the Muslim population has grown. Now Bethlehem, like all Palestinian cities in the West Bank, is predominantly Muslim. Zoughbi, a member of a prominent Christian family in Bethlehem, has felt so bereft of Christmas spirit that she and her husband did not even bother to pull their full-sized tree out of storage. Instead, they stuck a small metal one in a corner of their apartment. For many Palestinian Christians, the worst part of this Christmas season is having to cancel extended-family gatherings. Zoughbi’s clan usually gathers for a dinner of qidreh, a rice and lamb dish, at a large restaurant with 150 of her relatives, often followed by an evening of drumming and singing Arabic Christmas songs. “These are some of the only times we all come together,” she said. Nihaya Musleh, a resident of Beit Sahour, immediately east of Bethlehem, said she had planned to host Harumiya, a local tradition in which men — or, as in her case, the family matriarch — invite their married daughters and sisters home for a special meal 40 days before Christmas. Musleh said she and her son had invited 28 family members to her home for a luncheon, promising to enforce social distancing. But after she spent two days cooking, Musleh said, her daughter-in-law tested positive for the virus, so she called it off. “I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t unhappy about missing out on Harumiya,” she said. “But I’m glad we found out about the positive test the day before — it was a gift from God.”

A COVID Christmas comes to Bethlehem

Thailand recorded over 500 fresh infections in 24 hours, witnessing biggest one day rise in COVID-19 cases. Surge linked to outbreak in country's biggest seafood market.

Thailand witnesses biggest COVID-19 surge

Regulatory authority in Switzerland gave a go-ahead for Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Saturday. The Swissmedic regulatory authority took the decision on Saturday. It is the first vaccine to be authorised for use in the wealthy European nation.

"After a meticulous review of the available information, Swissmedic concluded that the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech is safe and that its benefit outweighs the risks," the body said in a statement.

"The safety of patients is an essential prerequisite, especially where the authorisation of vaccines is concerned," said Swissmedic director Raimund Bruhin.

"Thanks to the rolling procedure and our flexibly organised teams, we nevertheless managed to reach a decision quickly -- while also fully satisfying the three most important requirements of safety, efficacy and quality."

Population of Switzerland is 8.6 million. It has secured around 15.8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses by striking deals with thre manufacturers.

The deal with Pfizer/Biotech vaccine is for three million doses. The contract with Moderna has been made to procure 7.5 million doses. AstraZeneca will provide 5.3 million doses. Two doses are required per person with all these vaccines.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-authorises-moderna-as-second-covid-19-vaccine-350878">US authorises Moderna as second Covid-19 vaccine</a>

With Covid-19 cases and deaths still rising fast, the Swiss government announced Friday that restaurants and bars would be closed again across the country.

"The epidemiological situation is a cause of great concern," the government said in a statement.

"The number of infections is very high and is continuing to rise. Hospitals and healthcare workers have been under extreme pressure for weeks and the festive period increases the risk of an even more rapid rise in cases," it explained.

Switzerland is continuing to witness more than 4,000 new cases and 100 deaths each day.

In total, Switzerland has recorded more than 400,000 cases and nearly 6,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Regulatory authority in Switzerland gave a go-ahead for Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Saturday. The Swissmedic regulatory authority took the decision on Saturday.

Regulatory authority in Switzerland gave a go-ahead for Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Saturday. The Swissmedic regulatory authority took the decision on Saturday. It is the first vaccine to be authorised for use in the wealthy European nation. "After a meticulous review of the available information, Swissmedic concluded that the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech is safe and that its benefit outweighs the risks," the body said in a statement. "The safety of patients is an essential prerequisite, especially where the authorisation of vaccines is concerned," said Swissmedic director Raimund Bruhin. "Thanks to the rolling procedure and our flexibly organised teams, we nevertheless managed to reach a decision quickly -- while also fully satisfying the three most important requirements of safety, efficacy and quality." Population of Switzerland is 8.6 million. It has secured around 15.8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses by striking deals with thre manufacturers. The deal with Pfizer/Biotech vaccine is for three million doses. The contract with Moderna has been made to procure 7.5 million doses. AstraZeneca will provide 5.3 million doses. Two doses are required per person with all these vaccines. Also Read | US authorises Moderna as second Covid-19 vaccine With Covid-19 cases and deaths still rising fast, the Swiss government announced Friday that restaurants and bars would be closed again across the country. "The epidemiological situation is a cause of great concern," the government said in a statement. "The number of infections is very high and is continuing to rise. Hospitals and healthcare workers have been under extreme pressure for weeks and the festive period increases the risk of an even more rapid rise in cases," it explained. Switzerland is continuing to witness more than 4,000 new cases and 100 deaths each day. In total, Switzerland has recorded more than 400,000 cases and nearly 6,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Pfizer COVID vaccine gets go-ahead in Switzerland

As the United Kingdom began administering people with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, researchers from the University of Oxford and pharmaceutical major AstraZeneca said that Oxford’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate has a better immune response when a two full-dose regime is used rather than a full-dose followed by a half-dose booster. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-leaders-self-isolate-after-macron-tests-covid-19-positive-350545">Also read | European leaders self-isolate after Macron tests COVID-19 positive</a> 
 
The vaccine candidate, which has been licensed to AstraZeneca, has published interim late-stage trial results showing higher efficacy when a half dose is followed by a full dose, compared to a two full-dose regime, though more work needs to be done to affirm the result.

The details from the Phase I/II clinical trials released on Thursday made no reference to the half-dose/full-dose regime, which Oxford has said had been “unplanned” but approved by regulators.

The university said it had explored two dosing regimes in early-stage trials, a full-dose/full-dose regime and a full-dose/half-dose regime, investigated as a possible “dose sparing” strategy.

“The booster doses of the vaccine are both shown to induce stronger antibody responses than a single dose, the standard dose/standard dose inducing the best response,” the university said in a statement.

The vaccine “stimulates broad antibody and T cell functions,” it said after publishing further data from the Phase I/II clinical trials. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

As the United Kingdom began administering people with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, researchers from the University of Oxford and pharmaceutical major AstraZeneca said that Oxford’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate has a better immune response when a two full-dose regime is used rather than a full-dose followed by a half-dose booster.

As the United Kingdom began administering people with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, researchers from the University of Oxford and pharmaceutical major AstraZeneca said that Oxford’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate has a better immune response when a two full-dose regime is used rather than a full-dose followed by a half-dose booster. Also read | European leaders self-isolate after Macron tests COVID-19 positive The vaccine candidate, which has been licensed to AstraZeneca, has published interim late-stage trial results showing higher efficacy when a half dose is followed by a full dose, compared to a two full-dose regime, though more work needs to be done to affirm the result. The details from the Phase I/II clinical trials released on Thursday made no reference to the half-dose/full-dose regime, which Oxford has said had been “unplanned” but approved by regulators. The university said it had explored two dosing regimes in early-stage trials, a full-dose/full-dose regime and a full-dose/half-dose regime, investigated as a possible “dose sparing” strategy. “The booster doses of the vaccine are both shown to induce stronger antibody responses than a single dose, the standard dose/standard dose inducing the best response,” the university said in a statement. The vaccine “stimulates broad antibody and T cell functions,” it said after publishing further data from the Phase I/II clinical trials. (With inputs from agencies)

Oxford says Covid-19 vaccine has good immune response with 2-dose regime

Nearly half the French population does not trust the Covid-19 vaccination, making Pasteur's country one of the most anti-vaccine countries in the world

Medical historian puts phenomenon of anti-vaccine movement into perspective

Coronavirus lockdown was hard on everyone. Some found ways to spend the period constructively but there are few who took it to another level. SN Lakshmi Sai Sri from Tamil Nadu is one of those few. The girl learnt how to cook during the lockdown and now has made a world record.

She cooked 46 dishes in 58 minutes on Tuesday (December 15) to earn a place in UNICO Book of World Records.

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Tamil Nadu: A girl entered UNICO Book Of World Records by cooking 46 dishes in 58 minutes in Chennai yesterday. SN Lakshmi Sai Sri said, "I learnt cooking from my mother. I am very happy". <a href="https://t.co/AmZ60HWvYX">pic.twitter.com/AmZ60HWvYX</a>
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Lakshmi's mother said that she taught her to cook during the lockdown and she did really well. Looking at her daughter's progress and interest in cooking, her father suggested that Lakshmi should try to set a record.

As per her father's information, previous such record was held by a 10-year-old girl from Kerala who had cooked 30 dishes in under an hour.

As she cooked 46 dishes in 58 minutes, Lakshmi broke the previous record and set a new one. 
&nbsp;

Coronavirus lockdown was hard on everyone. Some found ways to spend the period constructively but there are few who took it to another level. SN Lakshmi Sai Sri from Tamil Nadu is one of those few.

Coronavirus lockdown was hard on everyone. Some found ways to spend the period constructively but there are few who took it to another level. SN Lakshmi Sai Sri from Tamil Nadu is one of those few. The girl learnt how to cook during the lockdown and now has made a world record. She cooked 46 dishes in 58 minutes on Tuesday (December 15) to earn a place in UNICO Book of World Records. Tamil Nadu: A girl entered UNICO Book Of World Records by cooking 46 dishes in 58 minutes in Chennai yesterday. SN Lakshmi Sai Sri said, "I learnt cooking from my mother. I am very happy". pic.twitter.com/AmZ60HWvYX — ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2020 × Lakshmi's mother said that she taught her to cook during the lockdown and she did really well. Looking at her daughter's progress and interest in cooking, her father suggested that Lakshmi should try to set a record. As per her father's information, previous such record was held by a 10-year-old girl from Kerala who had cooked 30 dishes in under an hour. As she cooked 46 dishes in 58 minutes, Lakshmi broke the previous record and set a new one.

Indian girl who learnt to cook during lockdown makes cooking world record

Just five days before they were due to perform before a live audience for the first time in almost two months, the singers of the Paris Opera learned they could not re-open before January as France`s coronavirus cases remained stubbornly high. 
 
So they decided to film their performance of works by a young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and 18th-century French composers Chevalier de Saint-Georges and Andre Gretry and offer it on a new video-on-demand portal launched last week by the Opera de Paris, which runs the Garnier and the Bastille opera venues. 
 
"Of course it is sad, but we`re very lucky to be able to film this concert, especially because some pieces of music that will be played have never been recorded", said French soprano Pauline Texier. 
 
France`s government announced in November that a lockdown imposed at the end of October to tackle a second coronavirus wave would be partially lifted by Dec. 15 and would include the re-opening of cultural venues. 
 
But last Thursday Prime Minister Jean Castex said museums, cinemas and theatres would not re-open before at least the beginning of January as the target of keeping daily new infections below 5,000 had not been met. 
 
"For me, it`s really a shame that we currently cannot perform. Because we, as artists, are incomplete without the public", Fernando Escalona, a countertenor from Venezuela, told Reuters during the rehearsal. 
 
People from the arts and entertainment world protested in Paris on Tuesday against the government`s decision. 
 
Castex said extra financial aid would be granted to artists and there would be a Jan. 7 meeting to see if some reopening was possible. 
 
Not being able to perform in front of an audience has "become the new normal", American bass Aaron Pendleton said. 
 
"But we`re still able to share our work and we`re still able to work so we`ve been lucky to have that", he added. 
 
 
 
(Reporting by Lucien Libert; Writing by Benoit Van Overstraeten; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) 
&nbsp;

Just five days before they were due to perform before a live audience for the first time in almost two months, the singers of the Paris Opera learned they could not re-open before January as France`s coronavirus cases remained stubbornly high.

Just five days before they were due to perform before a live audience for the first time in almost two months, the singers of the Paris Opera learned they could not re-open before January as France`s coronavirus cases remained stubbornly high. So they decided to film their performance of works by a young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and 18th-century French composers Chevalier de Saint-Georges and Andre Gretry and offer it on a new video-on-demand portal launched last week by the Opera de Paris, which runs the Garnier and the Bastille opera venues. "Of course it is sad, but we`re very lucky to be able to film this concert, especially because some pieces of music that will be played have never been recorded", said French soprano Pauline Texier. France`s government announced in November that a lockdown imposed at the end of October to tackle a second coronavirus wave would be partially lifted by Dec. 15 and would include the re-opening of cultural venues. But last Thursday Prime Minister Jean Castex said museums, cinemas and theatres would not re-open before at least the beginning of January as the target of keeping daily new infections below 5,000 had not been met. "For me, it`s really a shame that we currently cannot perform. Because we, as artists, are incomplete without the public", Fernando Escalona, a countertenor from Venezuela, told Reuters during the rehearsal. People from the arts and entertainment world protested in Paris on Tuesday against the government`s decision. Castex said extra financial aid would be granted to artists and there would be a Jan. 7 meeting to see if some reopening was possible. Not being able to perform in front of an audience has "become the new normal", American bass Aaron Pendleton said. "But we`re still able to share our work and we`re still able to work so we`ve been lucky to have that", he added. (Reporting by Lucien Libert; Writing by Benoit Van Overstraeten; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

Paris Opera singers go digital after the pandemic keeps theatres closed

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Tuesday informed that India`s recovery rate has escalated to 95.12 per cent, calling it a significant milestone in its fight against the novel coronavirus.

The number of recoveries has crossed 94 lakhs (94,22,636), pushing the national recovery rate to over 95 per cent, which is "one of the highest in the world for countries with high caseload", the ministry underlined.

With a high number of patients recovering every day and the sustained fall in the mortality rate, the country's steady trend of decline in active cases continues, the ministry said.

There are 3,39,820 active cases of coronavirus infections as on Tuesday.

The slide in the active cases is supplemented by an exponential rise in the recoveries.

"The gap between active cases and recovered cases is continuously increasing and stands at 90,82,816. The national recovery rate has further escalated to 95.12 per cent," the ministry said.

A total 34,477 patients have recovered in a span of 24 hours, of whom 74.24 per cent are concentrated in 10 states and UTs, the ministry said in its data updated at 8 am Tuesday.

Maharashtra has reported the maximum number of single-day recoveries at 4,610, followed by 4,481 in Kerala and 2,980 in West Bengal.

The ministry said that 73.52 per cent of the new infections are from 10 states and UTs. Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 2,949, followed by Kerala with 2,707 new cases.

A total of 354 case fatalities have been reported in a span of 24 hours. Ten states and UTs account for 79.66 per cent of these.

Maharashtra and Delhi reported maximum casualties with 60 new deaths each, followed by West Bengal at 43.

The coronavirus caseload mounted to 99,06,165 with 22,065 infections being reported in a day, while the death toll rose to 1,43,709 with 354 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Tuesday informed that India`s recovery rate has escalated to 95.12 per cent, calling it a significant milestone in its fight against the novel coronavirus.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Tuesday informed that India`s recovery rate has escalated to 95.12 per cent, calling it a significant milestone in its fight against the novel coronavirus. The number of recoveries has crossed 94 lakhs (94,22,636), pushing the national recovery rate to over 95 per cent, which is "one of the highest in the world for countries with high caseload", the ministry underlined. With a high number of patients recovering every day and the sustained fall in the mortality rate, the country's steady trend of decline in active cases continues, the ministry said. There are 3,39,820 active cases of coronavirus infections as on Tuesday. The slide in the active cases is supplemented by an exponential rise in the recoveries. "The gap between active cases and recovered cases is continuously increasing and stands at 90,82,816. The national recovery rate has further escalated to 95.12 per cent," the ministry said. A total 34,477 patients have recovered in a span of 24 hours, of whom 74.24 per cent are concentrated in 10 states and UTs, the ministry said in its data updated at 8 am Tuesday. Maharashtra has reported the maximum number of single-day recoveries at 4,610, followed by 4,481 in Kerala and 2,980 in West Bengal. The ministry said that 73.52 per cent of the new infections are from 10 states and UTs. Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 2,949, followed by Kerala with 2,707 new cases. A total of 354 case fatalities have been reported in a span of 24 hours. Ten states and UTs account for 79.66 per cent of these. Maharashtra and Delhi reported maximum casualties with 60 new deaths each, followed by West Bengal at 43. The coronavirus caseload mounted to 99,06,165 with 22,065 infections being reported in a day, while the death toll rose to 1,43,709 with 354 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. (With inputs from agencies)

India's Covid-19 recovery rate crosses 95%, among highest in the world: Health Ministry

With the Food and Drug Administration’s authorization of a coronavirus vaccine on Friday, the United States became the third highly developed Western country — after Britain and Canada — to approve such a shot and is expected to start inoculating people within days.

But the three countries have very different health care systems. And they face different challenges in the race to get the vaccine to millions of people.

Here are some similarities and contrasts.

Is it the same vaccine?

For now, yes.

The first vaccine authorized by U.S. regulators, and the first approved by their British and Canadian counterparts, is the one developed by the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and a small company, BioNTech. It could gain European Union approval within weeks.

But several others are close behind, particularly a vaccine developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health, and another from AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford. It could well be that half a dozen or more vaccines are approved in the coming months.

So as 2021 unfolds, which shots (most of the inoculations would require two injections, weeks apart) someone gets could vary widely by country, depending on the speed of regulatory approvals, what deals governments have made to buy supplies and how much the vaccines cost. Even within a country, there could be differences based on how easy it is to distribute and use a particular vaccine.

The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna-NIH vaccines are of a new type never used before; they require ultracold storage and are more expensive than the likely competitors. The Pfizer shot has to be kept especially cold, at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit, which most health care facilities aren’t equipped to handle.

How centralized is the rollout?

In Britain, very. In the United States, not. In Canada, somewhere in between.

With a strong central government and a National Health Service that covers all of its people, Britain, which began giving the vaccine this past week, is directing the process from London. The national government chose the 50 hospitals that would initially get the vaccine and made sure they were prepared; decided how much each one would receive; and drafted the rules determining in what order people would be eligible to get it.

The Trump administration has deferred much of the decision-making to the states. The federal government will have the vaccine distributed to each state based on population, not need, but some states have complained that they do not know enough about the arrangements.

It will be up to the states to decide how to divide the doses among hospitals, clinics and, ultimately, drugstores and doctors’ offices, but at first, at least, the vaccine will go to hospitals with ultracold storage.

A committee advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is drawing up a priority list, starting with medical workers. But that work is still underway, and the guidelines are nonbinding. States are expected to differ somewhat in their approach.

Like Britain, Canada has a universal health care system, but like the United States, it has a federal government. The Canadian health care system is decentralized, administered by the provinces and territories.

For vaccine distribution, the central government plans to work through those regional governments. Ottawa will play a large role in directing the process.

How many people will get it at first?

That remains a bit murky.

Canada had ordered enough of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for all of its people, Britain enough for 30% and the United States enough for 15%.

But those numbers reflect deliveries that are expected to take months to complete, and Pfizer, like other companies, has hit snags in ramping up production. In addition, all three countries have made advance purchases from other companies, as well, so the pace of vaccine approval could significantly affect the speed of the rollout.

That speed will also be affected by the need for vaccination sites to be equipped with the right freezers, the staff to prepare the shots, and enough syringes and protective gear.

The initial shipments are a small fraction of the pre-purchases — 800,000 doses to Britain and an expected 249,000 this month to Canada.

U.S. officials have said they hope to have 40 million doses of the vaccine by the end of the month, which may be optimistic. That would be enough to inoculate 20 million people.

Rural areas where hospitals are not equipped to keep the vaccines at the right temperatures, or do not have the staff to prepare them for injection, will not receive the Pfizer shots. That is more of an obstacle in the United States and Canada, huge countries with vast, sparsely populated regions, than in Britain, which is much more compact.

In Canada, where the military is playing a central role in vaccine distribution, the government is sending shipments to all 10 provinces. The three northern territories will have to wait.

In the United States, FedEx and UPS will ship vaccines from distribution centers to every part of the country. But the holiday season is the busiest time of the year for delivery services, which could slow things down.

How fast will most people get vaccines?

That is even murkier.

Britain, Canada, the United States and the European Union have all followed similar strategies, preordering huge numbers of doses — more than enough to inoculate everyone — from multiple makers, hedging their bets in case some of the vaccines are not approved or some manufacturers have production breakdowns.

Relative to their populations, the United States has ordered far fewer doses than Canada or Britain, and last summer it passed up an offer to increase its advance order from Pfizer. Administration officials say the numbers are misleading, because the government has signed options to buy far more of the vaccine if it sees the need.

But in the face of intense global demand, it is not clear how fast pharmaceutical companies will be able to fulfill the orders they have, much less any additional orders.

And again, the speed of development, approval and production will affect how quickly supplies reach people. A country that places a bigger bet on one vaccine could be much better off than one that relies more heavily on another.

With the Food and Drug Administration’s authorization of a coronavirus vaccine on Friday, the United States became the third highly developed Western country — after Britain and Canada — to approve such a shot and is expected to start inoculating people within days.

With the Food and Drug Administration’s authorization of a coronavirus vaccine on Friday, the United States became the third highly developed Western country — after Britain and Canada — to approve such a shot and is expected to start inoculating people within days. But the three countries have very different health care systems. And they face different challenges in the race to get the vaccine to millions of people. Here are some similarities and contrasts. Is it the same vaccine? For now, yes. The first vaccine authorized by U.S. regulators, and the first approved by their British and Canadian counterparts, is the one developed by the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and a small company, BioNTech. It could gain European Union approval within weeks. But several others are close behind, particularly a vaccine developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health, and another from AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford. It could well be that half a dozen or more vaccines are approved in the coming months. So as 2021 unfolds, which shots (most of the inoculations would require two injections, weeks apart) someone gets could vary widely by country, depending on the speed of regulatory approvals, what deals governments have made to buy supplies and how much the vaccines cost. Even within a country, there could be differences based on how easy it is to distribute and use a particular vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna-NIH vaccines are of a new type never used before; they require ultracold storage and are more expensive than the likely competitors. The Pfizer shot has to be kept especially cold, at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit, which most health care facilities aren’t equipped to handle. How centralized is the rollout? In Britain, very. In the United States, not. In Canada, somewhere in between. With a strong central government and a National Health Service that covers all of its people, Britain, which began giving the vaccine this past week, is directing the process from London. The national government chose the 50 hospitals that would initially get the vaccine and made sure they were prepared; decided how much each one would receive; and drafted the rules determining in what order people would be eligible to get it. The Trump administration has deferred much of the decision-making to the states. The federal government will have the vaccine distributed to each state based on population, not need, but some states have complained that they do not know enough about the arrangements. It will be up to the states to decide how to divide the doses among hospitals, clinics and, ultimately, drugstores and doctors’ offices, but at first, at least, the vaccine will go to hospitals with ultracold storage. A committee advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is drawing up a priority list, starting with medical workers. But that work is still underway, and the guidelines are nonbinding. States are expected to differ somewhat in their approach. Like Britain, Canada has a universal health care system, but like the United States, it has a federal government. The Canadian health care system is decentralized, administered by the provinces and territories. For vaccine distribution, the central government plans to work through those regional governments. Ottawa will play a large role in directing the process. How many people will get it at first? That remains a bit murky. Canada had ordered enough of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for all of its people, Britain enough for 30% and the United States enough for 15%. But those numbers reflect deliveries that are expected to take months to complete, and Pfizer, like other companies, has hit snags in ramping up production. In addition, all three countries have made advance purchases from other companies, as well, so the pace of vaccine approval could significantly affect the speed of the rollout. That speed will also be affected by the need for vaccination sites to be equipped with the right freezers, the staff to prepare the shots, and enough syringes and protective gear. The initial shipments are a small fraction of the pre-purchases — 800,000 doses to Britain and an expected 249,000 this month to Canada. U.S. officials have said they hope to have 40 million doses of the vaccine by the end of the month, which may be optimistic. That would be enough to inoculate 20 million people. Rural areas where hospitals are not equipped to keep the vaccines at the right temperatures, or do not have the staff to prepare them for injection, will not receive the Pfizer shots. That is more of an obstacle in the United States and Canada, huge countries with vast, sparsely populated regions, than in Britain, which is much more compact. In Canada, where the military is playing a central role in vaccine distribution, the government is sending shipments to all 10 provinces. The three northern territories will have to wait. In the United States, FedEx and UPS will ship vaccines from distribution centers to every part of the country. But the holiday season is the busiest time of the year for delivery services, which could slow things down. How fast will most people get vaccines? That is even murkier. Britain, Canada, the United States and the European Union have all followed similar strategies, preordering huge numbers of doses — more than enough to inoculate everyone — from multiple makers, hedging their bets in case some of the vaccines are not approved or some manufacturers have production breakdowns. Relative to their populations, the United States has ordered far fewer doses than Canada or Britain, and last summer it passed up an offer to increase its advance order from Pfizer. Administration officials say the numbers are misleading, because the government has signed options to buy far more of the vaccine if it sees the need. But in the face of intense global demand, it is not clear how fast pharmaceutical companies will be able to fulfill the orders they have, much less any additional orders. And again, the speed of development, approval and production will affect how quickly supplies reach people. A country that places a bigger bet on one vaccine could be much better off than one that relies more heavily on another.

How the vaccine rollout will compare in Britain, Canada and the US

&nbsp;After a handful of artists questioned if country legend <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-country-music-legend-charley-pride-dies-from-coronavirus-at-86-349401">Charley Pride</a>, who died Saturday(local time) of COVID-19, could have been exposed at November 11`s CMA Awards, where he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nashville ceremony, the Country Music Association and representatives for Pride released a joint statement explaining the show and Pride`s testing procedures. 
 
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the CMA wrote in a statement posted to its website late Saturday afternoon, "Everyone affiliated with the CMA Awards followed strict testing protocols outlined by the city health department and unions." 
 
"Charley was tested prior to travelling to Nashville. He was tested upon landing in Nashville, and again on show day, with all tests coming back negative. After returning to Texas following the CMA Awards, Charley again tested negative multiple times. All of us in the country music community are heartbroken by Charley`s passing. 
 
Out of respect for his family during their grieving period, we will not be commenting on this further."Maren Morris, a triple winner at the awards, was one of the first to question how Pride had been infected.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-dolly-parton-maren-morris-and-other-celebrities-mourn-charley-prides-demise-349430" hreflang="en">Dolly Parton, Maren Morris and other celebrities mourn Charley Pride's demise</a>

She tweeted, "I don`t want to jump to conclusions because no family statement has been made, but if this was a result of the CMAs being indoors, we should all be outraged. Rest in power, Charley ... **** this ******* year.""We need answers as to how Charley Pride got covid," Mickey Guyton wrote, bringing the discussion to her Twitter page. 
 
As per The Hollywood Reporter, the CMA Awards were held at Music City Center in Nashville, attended only by performers, nominees and selected guests sitting at socially distanced tables. 
 
In an interview with Billboard after this year`s CMA Awards - an event that had a number of artists, including Florida Georgia Line, Lee Brice, Rascal Flatts and Lady A, not attending because they or a member of their family tested positive for COVID-19 -- CMA CEO Sarah Trahern addressed the rigorous testing protocols their team had in place. 
 
"We began testing weeks before the show, in October. It`s not just the artists and their guests we tested -- we tested literally everyone: stagehands, production crew, our staff, in addition to talent. We have our final load out happening now at Music City Center, so testing doesn`t just stop because talent is no longer on site. We also consulted with an epidemiologist throughout the process," Trahern said of preparing for the first awards show during the pandemic to include a live, if socially distanced and limited, audience."None of the artists who tested positive had ever entered the venue," added Trahern. 
 
"The protocols we followed were required not only by the CDC but the local health department, as well as the unions and guilds."&nbsp;

After a handful of artists questioned if country legend Charley Pride, who died Saturday(local time) of COVID-19, could have been exposed at November 11`s CMA Awards, where he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nashville ceremony, the Country Music Association and representatives for Pride released a joint statement explaining the show and Pride`s testing procedures.

After a handful of artists questioned if country legend Charley Pride, who died Saturday(local time) of COVID-19, could have been exposed at November 11`s CMA Awards, where he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nashville ceremony, the Country Music Association and representatives for Pride released a joint statement explaining the show and Pride`s testing procedures. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the CMA wrote in a statement posted to its website late Saturday afternoon, "Everyone affiliated with the CMA Awards followed strict testing protocols outlined by the city health department and unions." "Charley was tested prior to travelling to Nashville. He was tested upon landing in Nashville, and again on show day, with all tests coming back negative. After returning to Texas following the CMA Awards, Charley again tested negative multiple times. All of us in the country music community are heartbroken by Charley`s passing. Out of respect for his family during their grieving period, we will not be commenting on this further."Maren Morris, a triple winner at the awards, was one of the first to question how Pride had been infected. Also read: Dolly Parton, Maren Morris and other celebrities mourn Charley Pride's demise She tweeted, "I don`t want to jump to conclusions because no family statement has been made, but if this was a result of the CMAs being indoors, we should all be outraged. Rest in power, Charley ... **** this ******* year.""We need answers as to how Charley Pride got covid," Mickey Guyton wrote, bringing the discussion to her Twitter page. As per The Hollywood Reporter, the CMA Awards were held at Music City Center in Nashville, attended only by performers, nominees and selected guests sitting at socially distanced tables. In an interview with Billboard after this year`s CMA Awards - an event that had a number of artists, including Florida Georgia Line, Lee Brice, Rascal Flatts and Lady A, not attending because they or a member of their family tested positive for COVID-19 -- CMA CEO Sarah Trahern addressed the rigorous testing protocols their team had in place. "We began testing weeks before the show, in October. It`s not just the artists and their guests we tested -- we tested literally everyone: stagehands, production crew, our staff, in addition to talent. We have our final load out happening now at Music City Center, so testing doesn`t just stop because talent is no longer on site. We also consulted with an epidemiologist throughout the process," Trahern said of preparing for the first awards show during the pandemic to include a live, if socially distanced and limited, audience."None of the artists who tested positive had ever entered the venue," added Trahern. "The protocols we followed were required not only by the CDC but the local health department, as well as the unions and guilds."

CMA explains COVID-19 protocol following Charley Pride's death month after attending CMA Awards

US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) on Saturday denied that the emergency approval to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine was not given under political pressure. The regulator granted the approval on Saturday paving the way for mass vaccination in USA, the worst affected country in the global coronavirus pandemic.

"The representations in the press that I was threatened to be fired if we didn't get it done by a certain date is inaccurate," said Stephen Hahn, USFDA Commissioner refuting claims of political pressure.

He added that the decision, which had been expected a few days later, was "based on the strongest scientific integrity."

The agency also released new information for health care providers and for patients as the US shipped millions of doses of the vaccine across the country.&nbsp;

The United States has the highest pandemic death toll of any in the world, with fatalities now approaching 300,000 and nearly 16 million cases of infection.

FDA is now warning people who have a history of severe allergic reaction to ingredients in the vaccine, which are included on a patient fact sheet, not to take it.

If they receive the first dose and have a severe allergic reaction, they are advised to not take the second dose.

The FDA has made no definitive ruling regarding whether pregnant women or the immunocompromised should be given the shots, instead punting that call to people to make for themselves in consultation with their doctors.&nbsp;

"There were not enough pregnant women in the trials, or women who became pregnant in the trials to actually know, and make any statement about that," said FDA scientist Peter Marks.

"It will be something that providers will need to consider on an individual basis for patients."

Marks also voiced support for Pfizer's plan to allow people involved in the clinical trial to find out whether they had received the vaccine or placebo.

Under this proposal, if they received the placebo, they can request the vaccine when their demographic group's turn comes up.

US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) on Saturday denied that the emergency approval to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine was not given under political pressure. The regulator granted the approval on Saturday paving the way for mass vaccination in USA, the worst affected country in the global coronavirus pandemic.

US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) on Saturday denied that the emergency approval to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine was not given under political pressure. The regulator granted the approval on Saturday paving the way for mass vaccination in USA, the worst affected country in the global coronavirus pandemic. "The representations in the press that I was threatened to be fired if we didn't get it done by a certain date is inaccurate," said Stephen Hahn, USFDA Commissioner refuting claims of political pressure. He added that the decision, which had been expected a few days later, was "based on the strongest scientific integrity." The agency also released new information for health care providers and for patients as the US shipped millions of doses of the vaccine across the country. The United States has the highest pandemic death toll of any in the world, with fatalities now approaching 300,000 and nearly 16 million cases of infection. FDA is now warning people who have a history of severe allergic reaction to ingredients in the vaccine, which are included on a patient fact sheet, not to take it. If they receive the first dose and have a severe allergic reaction, they are advised to not take the second dose. The FDA has made no definitive ruling regarding whether pregnant women or the immunocompromised should be given the shots, instead punting that call to people to make for themselves in consultation with their doctors. "There were not enough pregnant women in the trials, or women who became pregnant in the trials to actually know, and make any statement about that," said FDA scientist Peter Marks. "It will be something that providers will need to consider on an individual basis for patients." Marks also voiced support for Pfizer's plan to allow people involved in the clinical trial to find out whether they had received the vaccine or placebo. Under this proposal, if they received the placebo, they can request the vaccine when their demographic group's turn comes up.

USFDA denies political pressure to approve Pfizer COVID vaccine quickly

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday that first doses of coronavirus vaccine will arrive in the country in a matter of days. He was speaking with reporters. His comments came just a day after Canada's health regulators granted emergency approval Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. 30,000 doses will arrive in Canada in the beginning.

"The first 30,000 doses are expected to arrive on Canadian soil in just a few days," said Trudeau.

He said that the federal government will cover the cost of the vaccine. He also said that his government will create a federal vaccine support program to address the unintended adverse effects of vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine.

Canada is expected to receive up to 249,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech before the end of December, which will allow up to 124,500 Canadians to be vaccinated before the end of the year, Trudeau said on Monday.

Public health officials say the plan is to vaccinate 40 to 50 percent of Canadians by next summer and complete the COVID-19 immunization program by September 30, 2021. As of Tuesday, Canadian authorities have reported over 440,000 coronavirus cases and more than 13,000 virus-related fatalities.

(With Reuters inputs)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday that first doses of coronavirus vaccine will arrive in the country in a matter of days. He was speaking with reporters.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday that first doses of coronavirus vaccine will arrive in the country in a matter of days. He was speaking with reporters. His comments came just a day after Canada's health regulators granted emergency approval Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. 30,000 doses will arrive in Canada in the beginning. "The first 30,000 doses are expected to arrive on Canadian soil in just a few days," said Trudeau. He said that the federal government will cover the cost of the vaccine. He also said that his government will create a federal vaccine support program to address the unintended adverse effects of vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine. Canada is expected to receive up to 249,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech before the end of December, which will allow up to 124,500 Canadians to be vaccinated before the end of the year, Trudeau said on Monday. Public health officials say the plan is to vaccinate 40 to 50 percent of Canadians by next summer and complete the COVID-19 immunization program by September 30, 2021. As of Tuesday, Canadian authorities have reported over 440,000 coronavirus cases and more than 13,000 virus-related fatalities. (With Reuters inputs)

Coronavirus vaccine to arrive in Canada in 'a few days', says PM Justin Trudeau

The overall number of global coronavirus cases has topped 69.6 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.58 million, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The worldwide number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has surpassed 69.6 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.58 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

In its latest update on Friday, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 69,496,859 and 1,580,727, respectively.

The US is the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 15,599,122 and 292,001, respectively, according to the CSSE.

India comes in second place in terms of cases at 9,767,371, while the country's death toll soared to 141,772.

The other countries with more than a million confirmed cases are Brazil (6,781,799), Russia (2,546,113), France (2,391,643), the UK (1,792,611), Italy (1,787,147), Spain (1,720,056), Argentina (1,482,216), Colombia (1,399,911), Germany (1,270,757), Mexico (1,217,126), Poland (1,102,096) and Iran (1,083,023), the CSSE figures showed.

Brazil currently accounts for the second-highest number of fatalities at 179,765.

The countries with a death toll above 20,000 are Mexico (112,326), the UK (63,179), Italy (62,626), France (57,044), Iran (51,496), Spain (47,344), Russia (44,769), Argentina (40,431), Colombia (38,484), Peru (36,401), South Africa (22,747), Poland (21,630) and Germany (20,737).

(With inputs from agencies)

The overall number of global coronavirus cases has topped 69.6 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.58 million, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The overall number of global coronavirus cases has topped 69.6 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.58 million, according to Johns Hopkins University. The worldwide number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has surpassed 69.6 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.58 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University. In its latest update on Friday, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 69,496,859 and 1,580,727, respectively. The US is the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 15,599,122 and 292,001, respectively, according to the CSSE. India comes in second place in terms of cases at 9,767,371, while the country's death toll soared to 141,772. The other countries with more than a million confirmed cases are Brazil (6,781,799), Russia (2,546,113), France (2,391,643), the UK (1,792,611), Italy (1,787,147), Spain (1,720,056), Argentina (1,482,216), Colombia (1,399,911), Germany (1,270,757), Mexico (1,217,126), Poland (1,102,096) and Iran (1,083,023), the CSSE figures showed. Brazil currently accounts for the second-highest number of fatalities at 179,765. The countries with a death toll above 20,000 are Mexico (112,326), the UK (63,179), Italy (62,626), France (57,044), Iran (51,496), Spain (47,344), Russia (44,769), Argentina (40,431), Colombia (38,484), Peru (36,401), South Africa (22,747), Poland (21,630) and Germany (20,737). (With inputs from agencies)

Worldwide coronavirus cases surpass 69.6 million-mark

Kristen Stewart contracted coronavirus while filming 'Happiest Season', co-star Aubrey Plaza revealed.&nbsp; 
 
Plaza recently appeared in Stephen Colbert's 'The Late Show', where she accidentally revealed that 'Twilight' star got&nbsp;the virus. &nbsp; 
 
While the shooting in Pittsburgh this past February, Stewart was one of many who caught the virus. ''COVID was on our set, Kristen got sick. Well, we didn’t know. A lot of people got sick,'' Plaza continued. ''It was the last week of February''.&nbsp; 
 
''It was that zone where people were starting to talk about coronavirus but people were kind of laughing about it — no one understood how serious it was.'' ''I think a bunch of people on our set got sick. I didn’t, thank God.''

 
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/npDdU_WYqIc" width="560"></iframe> 
 
Aubrey also recalled, when she asked someone whether she should worry about COVID, ''He was like, ‘That s–t’s been in Pittsburgh for a long time’ and I was like, ‘Jesus, alright.’ Anyway, he was right,” Aubrey shared. Stewart has yet not commented on the news.&nbsp;

The rom-com&nbsp;directed by&nbsp;Clea DuVall&nbsp;follows a story of a woman who struggles to come out to her conservative parents during Christmas.

Kristen Stewart contracted coronavirus while filming 'Happiest Season', co-star Aubrey Plaza revealed. Plaza recently appeared in Stephen Colbert's 'The Late Show', where she accidentally revealed that 'Twilight' star got the virus.

Kristen Stewart contracted coronavirus while filming 'Happiest Season', co-star Aubrey Plaza revealed. Plaza recently appeared in Stephen Colbert's 'The Late Show', where she accidentally revealed that 'Twilight' star got the virus. While the shooting in Pittsburgh this past February, Stewart was one of many who caught the virus. ''COVID was on our set, Kristen got sick. Well, we didn’t know. A lot of people got sick,'' Plaza continued. ''It was the last week of February''. ''It was that zone where people were starting to talk about coronavirus but people were kind of laughing about it — no one understood how serious it was.'' ''I think a bunch of people on our set got sick. I didn’t, thank God.'' Aubrey also recalled, when she asked someone whether she should worry about COVID, ''He was like, ‘That s–t’s been in Pittsburgh for a long time’ and I was like, ‘Jesus, alright.’ Anyway, he was right,” Aubrey shared. Stewart has yet not commented on the news. The rom-com directed by Clea DuVall follows a story of a woman who struggles to come out to her conservative parents during Christmas.

Kristen Stewart contracted COVID-19 while filming 'Happiest Season', co-star Aubrey Plaza reveals

Indonesia's social affairs minister was arrested on Saturday for allegedly accepting bribes links to food aid worth USD 1.2 million. The aid was meant for those hit by coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

Juliari Batubara turned himself in on Sunday at Indonesia's anti-corruption agency's headquarters. On Saturday, the anti-corruption agents seized suitcases, enveloped and backpacks stuffed with cash in a sting operation. Batubara was named a suspect after the sting operation.

Batubara is the second minister in President Joko Widodo's government to be arrested over alleged graft in recent weeks

"That's the people's money... it's aid urgently needed to help during Covid-19 and for the national economic recovery," Widodo said after Batubara's arrest, vowing he would not protect any corrupt officials. Widodo was quoted by AFP.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-summons-uk-envoy-over-papua-separatist-leader-347895">Indonesia summons UK envoy over Papua separatist leader</a>

Batubara has been accused of involvement in a bribery scheme linked to one such aid project.

Indonesia's economy -- Southeast Asia's biggest -- has been hit hard by the pandemic, and the government has rolled out aid programmes such as food packages to help those in need.

Officials allege that Batubara received more than USD 1 million from two contractors who were appointed to supply basic food packages for people hit by coronavirus pandemic.

For each package, Batubara would receive 10,000 rupiah, or USD 0.71, officials alleged.

If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of one billion rupiah (USD 70,000).

(With AFP inputs)

Indonesia's social affairs minister was arrested on Saturday for allegedly accepting bribes links to food aid worth USD 1.2 million. The aid was meant for those hit by coronavirus pandemic.

Indonesia's social affairs minister was arrested on Saturday for allegedly accepting bribes links to food aid worth USD 1.2 million. The aid was meant for those hit by coronavirus pandemic. Juliari Batubara turned himself in on Sunday at Indonesia's anti-corruption agency's headquarters. On Saturday, the anti-corruption agents seized suitcases, enveloped and backpacks stuffed with cash in a sting operation. Batubara was named a suspect after the sting operation. Batubara is the second minister in President Joko Widodo's government to be arrested over alleged graft in recent weeks "That's the people's money... it's aid urgently needed to help during Covid-19 and for the national economic recovery," Widodo said after Batubara's arrest, vowing he would not protect any corrupt officials. Widodo was quoted by AFP. Also Read | Indonesia summons UK envoy over Papua separatist leader Batubara has been accused of involvement in a bribery scheme linked to one such aid project. Indonesia's economy -- Southeast Asia's biggest -- has been hit hard by the pandemic, and the government has rolled out aid programmes such as food packages to help those in need. Officials allege that Batubara received more than USD 1 million from two contractors who were appointed to supply basic food packages for people hit by coronavirus pandemic. For each package, Batubara would receive 10,000 rupiah, or USD 0.71, officials alleged. If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of one billion rupiah (USD 70,000). (With AFP inputs)

Indonesia minister arrested over COVID aid bribes

&nbsp;Decked out in looks fit for a pre-revolutionary banquet, dozens of models paraded elaborate Chanel styles for the fashion house`s latest show, beamed out to audiences on Thursday evening from the hall of a 16th century Loire Valley chateau. 
 
Some luxury brands, including Chanel, had tentatively returned to the catwalk with live audiences, but governments have since brought in fresh restrictions on movement due to the COVID-19 pandemic in France and elsewhere. 
 
So the French label turned the Chateau de Chenonceau into a glamorous online showcase for its Metiers D`art collection - a display of its finest craftsmanship under designer Virginie Viard, who succeeded the late Karl Lagerfeld. 
 
Medieval-style tunics in tweed or rich velvet populated the runway, followed by bejewelled dresses fit for Renaissance princesses. Some dresses and skirts were worn over leggings, giving styles a modern twist - with a hint of the court jester. 
 
With hulking fireplace behind them and beneath heavy-set chandeliers, models walked through a black and white stone hallway. The lozenge motif was echoed on gowns, including a mesh dress and a chequered black-and-white full tweed skirt. 
 
Some styles were enhanced with fur-style trimmings on cuffs and lapels while models more elaborate pearl necklaces, and some sported heraldic symbols recalling the fleur-de-lis on knitted tops. 
 
American actress Kristin Stewart, one of the faces of Chanel in its advertising campaigns, looked on from inside the hall, as a lone front row spectator. 
 
Known for its arched bridge over the River Cher, the Chateau de Chenonceau was shaped by the women who first lived there, including noblewoman Diane de Poitiers, royal mistress to King Henry II, and Catherine de Medici, the king`s widow. 
 
It is also known as the Chateau des Dames.

Decked out in looks fit for a pre-revolutionary banquet, dozens of models paraded elaborate Chanel styles for the fashion house`s latest show, beamed out to audiences on Thursday evening from the hall of a 16th century Loire Valley chateau.

Decked out in looks fit for a pre-revolutionary banquet, dozens of models paraded elaborate Chanel styles for the fashion house`s latest show, beamed out to audiences on Thursday evening from the hall of a 16th century Loire Valley chateau. Some luxury brands, including Chanel, had tentatively returned to the catwalk with live audiences, but governments have since brought in fresh restrictions on movement due to the COVID-19 pandemic in France and elsewhere. So the French label turned the Chateau de Chenonceau into a glamorous online showcase for its Metiers D`art collection - a display of its finest craftsmanship under designer Virginie Viard, who succeeded the late Karl Lagerfeld. Medieval-style tunics in tweed or rich velvet populated the runway, followed by bejewelled dresses fit for Renaissance princesses. Some dresses and skirts were worn over leggings, giving styles a modern twist - with a hint of the court jester. With hulking fireplace behind them and beneath heavy-set chandeliers, models walked through a black and white stone hallway. The lozenge motif was echoed on gowns, including a mesh dress and a chequered black-and-white full tweed skirt. Some styles were enhanced with fur-style trimmings on cuffs and lapels while models more elaborate pearl necklaces, and some sported heraldic symbols recalling the fleur-de-lis on knitted tops. American actress Kristin Stewart, one of the faces of Chanel in its advertising campaigns, looked on from inside the hall, as a lone front row spectator. Known for its arched bridge over the River Cher, the Chateau de Chenonceau was shaped by the women who first lived there, including noblewoman Diane de Poitiers, royal mistress to King Henry II, and Catherine de Medici, the king`s widow. It is also known as the Chateau des Dames.

COVID-conscious Chanel streams fashion show from Loire chateau

Britain has become the first Western country to approve a Covid-19 vaccine for general use, giving the green light to the Pfizer/BioNTech drug.

As authorities in the US and Europe probe other candidates, here is how countries have sped up their approval procedures to face up to the pandemic.

Britain: 'rolling reviews'

Britain was able to approve the Pfizer vaccine after the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) gave its all-clear.

The MHRA used a "rolling review" process from June to assess the vaccine in record time.

Teams of scientists had worked "around the clock" on different aspects of the safety assessment, often tackling several topics in parallel, MHRA chief June Raine said.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock and others claimed that Britain's departure from the EU had allowed it to approve the vaccine faster than its continental neighbours.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-could-have-broken-out-in-us-before-being-officially-confirmed-in-china-347127">Coronavirus could have broken out in US before being officially confirmed in China</a> 
 
"Unlike the EMA (European Medicines Agency), they can ask questions as they go and obtain responses faster as a single agency," said Penny Ward, professor in pharmaceutical medicine at King's College London.

Raine insisted that "no corners whatsoever have been cut" in the vaccine approval process.

Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, told the BBC on Thursday that "I actually don't expect other regulators... to be very far behind with this vaccine," saying approvals elsewhere were likely "a matter of days".

EU: accelerated procedures

The Amsterdam-based EMA, which regulates medicines across the 27 EU countries, has also turned to a "rolling review" process for safety and effectiveness data from Covid-19 vaccine developers.

All three of the most advanced candidates -- Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford/Astrazeneca -- have been subject to the scheme for several weeks already.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-immunise-100-million-people-by-february-top-official-347067">US to immunise 100 million people by February: Top official</a> 
 
According to the EMA, the accelerated procedures are granted for medicines "that fulfil an unmet medical need on the basis of less complete data than normally required."

The normal pipeline for vaccines would see all the data collected and submitted at the very start of the authorisation process.

An EMA decision on Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine is expected "by December 29 at the latest", while a ruling on Moderna's version should follow by January 12.

It is up to the European Commission in Brussels to issue the final green light.

US: advisory committee

Both Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna have requested emergency use authorisation (EUA) for their Covid-19 vaccines from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

But the American process is slower than the British one and involves a public consultation.

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&nbsp;

The FDA carries out its own analysis of the vaccine and calls on an independent advisory committee.

"The FDA process is a completely transparent process with independent experts commenting and asking questions and recommending or advising the agency," Moncef Slaoui, scientific advisor to Washington's Operation Warp Speed (OWS) program, said Wednesday.

The advisory committee is scheduled for a December 10 meeting on the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and for Moderna on December 17.

FDA decisions on the two drugs should follow those meetings. If the agency approves them, the vaccines could be available in the US -- the world's hardest-hit country with more than 270,000 deaths -- in December.

Russia: simplified procedure

Testing on medical products under development is carried out by the Russian health ministry's "scientific centre for evaluation of medicines".

According to its official vaccine website, "unlike many countries, there is a system of state testing, using comparable medications, a double-blind study and other control tests independent of the developers".

President Vladimir Putin ordered the government to simplify procedures for state registration of some medicines, so as to speed up approval for a vaccine.

Testing on the country's Sputnik V vaccine began in mid-February, and on August 1 the first and second phases of clinical trials were complete.

Authorities approved the inoculation on August 11 before Phase 3 trials had even begun. The large-scale study on 40,000 volunteers is now complete, but results have not been made public.

Putin has told authorities to begin "large-scale" vaccinations among at-risk populations from next week.

The drugs should be made generally available to the Russian public in early 2021.

Russia has also started a mass vaccination campaign in the army, expecting to vaccinate 80,000 soldiers by the end of this year and more than 400,000 servicemen in the future.

China: Last-stage trials and emergency use

China has four coronavirus vaccines in phase 3 trials -- typically the last step before regulatory approval -- but has not released much of its data.

Although regulators have yet to approve China's vaccines for mass distribution, the country has approved some advanced candidates for emergency use, giving jabs to people ranging from state employees to international students since July.

Nearly a million people have already taken an experimental vaccine by Sinopharm, the company said in November. Another firm, Sinovac Biotech, earlier said almost all its employees and their families had voluntarily taken its vaccine.

Britain has become the first Western country to approve a Covid-19 vaccine for general use, giving the green light to the Pfizer/BioNTech drug. As authorities in the US and Europe probe other candidates, here is how countries have sped up their approval procedures to face up to the pandemic.

Britain has become the first Western country to approve a Covid-19 vaccine for general use, giving the green light to the Pfizer/BioNTech drug. As authorities in the US and Europe probe other candidates, here is how countries have sped up their approval procedures to face up to the pandemic. Britain: 'rolling reviews' Britain was able to approve the Pfizer vaccine after the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) gave its all-clear. The MHRA used a "rolling review" process from June to assess the vaccine in record time. Teams of scientists had worked "around the clock" on different aspects of the safety assessment, often tackling several topics in parallel, MHRA chief June Raine said. Health Secretary Matt Hancock and others claimed that Britain's departure from the EU had allowed it to approve the vaccine faster than its continental neighbours. Also Read | Coronavirus could have broken out in US before being officially confirmed in China "Unlike the EMA (European Medicines Agency), they can ask questions as they go and obtain responses faster as a single agency," said Penny Ward, professor in pharmaceutical medicine at King's College London. Raine insisted that "no corners whatsoever have been cut" in the vaccine approval process. Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, told the BBC on Thursday that "I actually don't expect other regulators... to be very far behind with this vaccine," saying approvals elsewhere were likely "a matter of days". EU: accelerated procedures The Amsterdam-based EMA, which regulates medicines across the 27 EU countries, has also turned to a "rolling review" process for safety and effectiveness data from Covid-19 vaccine developers. All three of the most advanced candidates -- Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford/Astrazeneca -- have been subject to the scheme for several weeks already. Also Read | US to immunise 100 million people by February: Top official According to the EMA, the accelerated procedures are granted for medicines "that fulfil an unmet medical need on the basis of less complete data than normally required." The normal pipeline for vaccines would see all the data collected and submitted at the very start of the authorisation process. An EMA decision on Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine is expected "by December 29 at the latest", while a ruling on Moderna's version should follow by January 12. It is up to the European Commission in Brussels to issue the final green light. US: advisory committee Both Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna have requested emergency use authorisation (EUA) for their Covid-19 vaccines from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But the American process is slower than the British one and involves a public consultation. × The FDA carries out its own analysis of the vaccine and calls on an independent advisory committee. "The FDA process is a completely transparent process with independent experts commenting and asking questions and recommending or advising the agency," Moncef Slaoui, scientific advisor to Washington's Operation Warp Speed (OWS) program, said Wednesday. The advisory committee is scheduled for a December 10 meeting on the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and for Moderna on December 17. FDA decisions on the two drugs should follow those meetings. If the agency approves them, the vaccines could be available in the US -- the world's hardest-hit country with more than 270,000 deaths -- in December. Russia: simplified procedure Testing on medical products under development is carried out by the Russian health ministry's "scientific centre for evaluation of medicines". According to its official vaccine website, "unlike many countries, there is a system of state testing, using comparable medications, a double-blind study and other control tests independent of the developers". President Vladimir Putin ordered the government to simplify procedures for state registration of some medicines, so as to speed up approval for a vaccine. Testing on the country's Sputnik V vaccine began in mid-February, and on August 1 the first and second phases of clinical trials were complete. Authorities approved the inoculation on August 11 before Phase 3 trials had even begun. The large-scale study on 40,000 volunteers is now complete, but results have not been made public. Putin has told authorities to begin "large-scale" vaccinations among at-risk populations from next week. The drugs should be made generally available to the Russian public in early 2021. Russia has also started a mass vaccination campaign in the army, expecting to vaccinate 80,000 soldiers by the end of this year and more than 400,000 servicemen in the future. China: Last-stage trials and emergency use China has four coronavirus vaccines in phase 3 trials -- typically the last step before regulatory approval -- but has not released much of its data. Although regulators have yet to approve China's vaccines for mass distribution, the country has approved some advanced candidates for emergency use, giving jabs to people ranging from state employees to international students since July. Nearly a million people have already taken an experimental vaccine by Sinopharm, the company said in November. Another firm, Sinovac Biotech, earlier said almost all its employees and their families had voluntarily taken its vaccine.

How the world has sped up vaccine approvals

&nbsp;On the stage at the Hebertot theatre in Paris, Trinidad Garcia is re-enacting a scene from her one-woman show, "For you to keep loving yourself," to an audience of zero. 
 
The show premiered in September and was meant to run at the theatre until December before COVID-19 intervened. A nationwide lockdown has forced the closure of the theatre, and the cancellation of the shows. 
 
"There are days when, what weighs on me in this solitude, is the lack of contact with the public," said the 55-year-old, who goes by the stage name Trinidad.

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"I do the play for the people, do be with people, I`ve always done that," she said, reprising for Reuters a performance that she last gave to a live audience of 8 people on Oct. 29, the day before the lockdown came into force. 
 
Nearly a year into the global pandemic, many workplaces have found a way to keep ticking over, but live performance is struggling. The industry`s business model, packing spectators into a confined space, does not sit well with social distancing.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-the-crown-mouse-to-got-coffee-mug-guffaw-here-are-most-epic-onscreen-goof-ups-344106" hreflang="en">From 'The Crown' mouse to 'GOT' coffee mug guffaw: Here are most epic onscreen goof-ups</a> 
 
Trinidad receives a stipend from a government insurance scheme for out of work people in the performing arts, of 1,500 euros ($1,780) a month. "At the moment what I get is just enough to pay my rent and my taxes, and my phone. I`ll need to make sacrifices on everything to do with food and other things," she said in her studio apartment in Paris which she shares with a cat called Beau Gosse. 
Trinidad writes her own material, and her work focuses on themes of female empowerment. 
 
She is working on ideas for a new play, about life for women in lockdown, but she is not sure when she will be able to perform it live. 
People are scared to gather together, they have little spare cash, and the financial eco-system of theatre has been disrupted by COVID-19, she said. 
 
"So yes, indeed, how are we going to start all that back up again?"&nbsp;

On the stage at the Hebertot theatre in Paris, Trinidad Garcia is re-enacting a scene from her one-woman show, "For you to keep loving yourself," to an audience of zero.

On the stage at the Hebertot theatre in Paris, Trinidad Garcia is re-enacting a scene from her one-woman show, "For you to keep loving yourself," to an audience of zero. The show premiered in September and was meant to run at the theatre until December before COVID-19 intervened. A nationwide lockdown has forced the closure of the theatre, and the cancellation of the shows. "There are days when, what weighs on me in this solitude, is the lack of contact with the public," said the 55-year-old, who goes by the stage name Trinidad. HBO picks up series adaptation of 'The Last of Us' "I do the play for the people, do be with people, I`ve always done that," she said, reprising for Reuters a performance that she last gave to a live audience of 8 people on Oct. 29, the day before the lockdown came into force. Nearly a year into the global pandemic, many workplaces have found a way to keep ticking over, but live performance is struggling. The industry`s business model, packing spectators into a confined space, does not sit well with social distancing. From 'The Crown' mouse to 'GOT' coffee mug guffaw: Here are most epic onscreen goof-ups Trinidad receives a stipend from a government insurance scheme for out of work people in the performing arts, of 1,500 euros ($1,780) a month. "At the moment what I get is just enough to pay my rent and my taxes, and my phone. I`ll need to make sacrifices on everything to do with food and other things," she said in her studio apartment in Paris which she shares with a cat called Beau Gosse. Trinidad writes her own material, and her work focuses on themes of female empowerment. She is working on ideas for a new play, about life for women in lockdown, but she is not sure when she will be able to perform it live. People are scared to gather together, they have little spare cash, and the financial eco-system of theatre has been disrupted by COVID-19, she said. "So yes, indeed, how are we going to start all that back up again?"

'I miss the audience': a French performer's life in COVID lockdown

Netflix's critically-acclaimed 'Dear White People'&nbsp;has become the latest TV show to shut down production due to multiple positive COVID-19 tests.

According to a report in Deadline, the show, entering its fourth and final season, will shut down filming for two weeks after several team members tested positive. Production was originally slated to begin this spring before it was halted by the original COVID-19 production shutdown.

"Several team members of the Lionsgate television series Dear White People for Netflix have tested positive for COVID-19,"&nbsp;a Lionsgate spokesman said.&nbsp; "They are currently in quarantine, and other staff members have been notified,' the statement added, though it didn't identify who tested positive."

"We are following the extensive health and safety protocols we have in place, and the series will not be shooting for the next two weeks while quarantine measures are observed,"&nbsp;the statement continued.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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"The health and safety of our Dear White People team is our highest priority," the statement concluded. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-netflix-halts-the-witcher-production-following-multiple-positive-covid-19-tests-341870">Other shows that have halted filming due to COVID-19</a>&nbsp;include Amazon's Bosch, HBO's 'The Gilded Age', ABC's 'Call Your Mother', Netflix's 'The Witcher and Vikings: Valhalla', NBC's 'Chicago Med'&nbsp;and 'Chicago Fire', Fox's 'The Resident'&nbsp;and CBS' 'Young Sheldon'.

'Dear White People'&nbsp;is based on the 2014 feature film of the same name, written and directed by Justin Simien, starring Tessa Thompson. The series is set at a fictional Ivy League university, following the racial tensions that simmer under the surface. It debuted to rave reviews in 2017, starring Logan Browning as Samantha White, a campus radio DJ whose show dubbed Dear White People is quite divisive.

The show also stars Brandon P. Bell, DeRon Horton, Antoinette Robinson, John Patrick Amedori, Ashley Blaine Featherston,&nbsp;

Netflix hasn't announced the premiere date of the final season, though creator Simien teased in previous interviews the new season will touch on virtue signalling and the 'myth of meritocracy,' while teasing a 'big aesthetic idea' behind the final episodes.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-movie-shoots-to-award-show-events-that-have-got-affected-due-to-coronavirus-282912">Also see:&nbsp;From movie shoots to award show, events that have got affected due to coronavirus</a>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Netflix's critically-acclaimed 'Dear White People' has become the latest TV show to shut down production due to multiple positive COVID-19 tests. According to a report in Deadline, the show, entering its fourth and final season, will shut down filming for two weeks after several team members tested positive.

Netflix's critically-acclaimed 'Dear White People' has become the latest TV show to shut down production due to multiple positive COVID-19 tests. According to a report in Deadline, the show, entering its fourth and final season, will shut down filming for two weeks after several team members tested positive. Production was originally slated to begin this spring before it was halted by the original COVID-19 production shutdown. "Several team members of the Lionsgate television series Dear White People for Netflix have tested positive for COVID-19," a Lionsgate spokesman said. "They are currently in quarantine, and other staff members have been notified,' the statement added, though it didn't identify who tested positive." "We are following the extensive health and safety protocols we have in place, and the series will not be shooting for the next two weeks while quarantine measures are observed," the statement continued. "The health and safety of our Dear White People team is our highest priority," the statement concluded. Other shows that have halted filming due to COVID-19 include Amazon's Bosch, HBO's 'The Gilded Age', ABC's 'Call Your Mother', Netflix's 'The Witcher and Vikings: Valhalla', NBC's 'Chicago Med' and 'Chicago Fire', Fox's 'The Resident' and CBS' 'Young Sheldon'. 'Dear White People' is based on the 2014 feature film of the same name, written and directed by Justin Simien, starring Tessa Thompson. The series is set at a fictional Ivy League university, following the racial tensions that simmer under the surface. It debuted to rave reviews in 2017, starring Logan Browning as Samantha White, a campus radio DJ whose show dubbed Dear White People is quite divisive. The show also stars Brandon P. Bell, DeRon Horton, Antoinette Robinson, John Patrick Amedori, Ashley Blaine Featherston, Netflix hasn't announced the premiere date of the final season, though creator Simien teased in previous interviews the new season will touch on virtue signalling and the 'myth of meritocracy,' while teasing a 'big aesthetic idea' behind the final episodes. Also see: From movie shoots to award show, events that have got affected due to coronavirus

Netflix's 'Dear White People' halts production after multiple positive COVID-19 tests

In a small town south of Brussels, funeral director Stephane Geeurickx says almost all the dead he has buried in the last weeks died of COVID-19, which was not the case when the pandemic first took hold.

Belgian undertaker buries almost only COVID victims amid second wave

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that the Indian Domestic airlines can now operate up to 70 per cent of the flights that they were operating before the Covid-19 pandemic struck.&nbsp;

In a circular, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said that the order comes into effect immediately. Currently, the airlines are allowed to operate 60 per cent of their pre-Covid capacity. 
 
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"Domestic operations recommenced with 30K passengers on 25 May &amp; have reached 2.06 lakhs on 8 November," Puri said via a tweet.

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Domestic operations recommenced with 30K passengers on 25 May &amp; have reached 2.06 lakhs on 8 Nov 2020. <a href="https://twitter.com/MoCA_GoI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MoCA_GoI</a> is now allowing domestic carriers to increase their operations from existing 60% to 70% of the pre-COVID approved capacity.
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) <a href="https://twitter.com/HardeepSPuri/status/1326511595753664512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The ministry had resumed scheduled domestic passenger services from May 25, after a gap of two months due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdown. However, the airlines were allowed to operate not more than 33 per cent of their pre-COVID domestic flights.

On June 26, this was increased to 45 per cent and on September 2, it was further increased to 60 per cent.

(With inputs from agencies)

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that the Indian Domestic airlines can now operate up to 70 per cent of the flights that they were operating before the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that the Indian Domestic airlines can now operate up to 70 per cent of the flights that they were operating before the Covid-19 pandemic struck. In a circular, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said that the order comes into effect immediately. Currently, the airlines are allowed to operate 60 per cent of their pre-Covid capacity. "Domestic operations recommenced with 30K passengers on 25 May & have reached 2.06 lakhs on 8 November," Puri said via a tweet. Domestic operations recommenced with 30K passengers on 25 May & have reached 2.06 lakhs on 8 Nov 2020. @MoCA_GoI is now allowing domestic carriers to increase their operations from existing 60% to 70% of the pre-COVID approved capacity. — Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) November 11, 2020 × The ministry had resumed scheduled domestic passenger services from May 25, after a gap of two months due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdown. However, the airlines were allowed to operate not more than 33 per cent of their pre-COVID domestic flights. On June 26, this was increased to 45 per cent and on September 2, it was further increased to 60 per cent. (With inputs from agencies)

Govt increases domestic flights' cap from 60% to 70% of pre-Covid levels

Many COVID-19 survivors are likely to be at greater risk of developing mental illness, psychiatrists said on Monday, after a large study found 20% of those infected with the coronavirus are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder within 90 days.

Anxiety, depression and insomnia were most common among recovered COVID-19 patients in the study who developed mental health problems, and the researchers also found significantly higher risks of dementia, a brain impairment condition.

"People have been worried that COVID-19 survivors will be at greater risk of mental health problems, and our findings ... show this to be likely," said Paul Harrison, a professor of psychiatry at Britain`s Oxford University.

Doctors and scientists around the world urgently need to investigate the causes and identify new treatments for mental illness after COVID-19, Harrison said.

"(Health) services need to be ready to provide care, especially since our results are likely to be underestimates (of the number of psychiatric patients)," he added.

The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal, analysed electronic health records of 69 million people in the United States, including more than 62,000 cases of COVID-19.

In the three months following testing positive for COVID-19, 1 in 5 survivors were recorded as having a first time diagnosis of anxiety, depression or insomnia. This was about twice as likely as for other groups of patients in the same period, the researchers said.

The study also found that people with a pre-existing mental illness were 65% more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 than those without.

Mental health specialists not directly involved with the study said its findings add to growing evidence that COVID-19 can affect the brain and mind, increasing the risk of a range of psychiatric illnesses.

"This is likely due to a combination of the psychological stressors associated with this particular pandemic and the physical effects of the illness," said Michael Bloomfield, a consultant psychiatrist at University College London.

Simon Wessely, regius professor of psychiatry at King’s College London, said the finding that those with mental health disorders are also at higher risk of getting COVID-19 echoed similar findings in previous infectious disease outbreaks.

"COVID-19 affects the central nervous system, and so might directly increase subsequent disorders. But this research confirms that is not the whole story, and that this risk is increased by previous ill health," he said.

Many COVID-19 survivors are likely to be at greater risk of developing mental illness, psychiatrists said on Monday, after a large study found 20% of those infected with the coronavirus are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder within 90 days.

Many COVID-19 survivors are likely to be at greater risk of developing mental illness, psychiatrists said on Monday, after a large study found 20% of those infected with the coronavirus are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder within 90 days. Anxiety, depression and insomnia were most common among recovered COVID-19 patients in the study who developed mental health problems, and the researchers also found significantly higher risks of dementia, a brain impairment condition. "People have been worried that COVID-19 survivors will be at greater risk of mental health problems, and our findings ... show this to be likely," said Paul Harrison, a professor of psychiatry at Britain`s Oxford University. Doctors and scientists around the world urgently need to investigate the causes and identify new treatments for mental illness after COVID-19, Harrison said. "(Health) services need to be ready to provide care, especially since our results are likely to be underestimates (of the number of psychiatric patients)," he added. The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal, analysed electronic health records of 69 million people in the United States, including more than 62,000 cases of COVID-19. In the three months following testing positive for COVID-19, 1 in 5 survivors were recorded as having a first time diagnosis of anxiety, depression or insomnia. This was about twice as likely as for other groups of patients in the same period, the researchers said. The study also found that people with a pre-existing mental illness were 65% more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 than those without. Mental health specialists not directly involved with the study said its findings add to growing evidence that COVID-19 can affect the brain and mind, increasing the risk of a range of psychiatric illnesses. "This is likely due to a combination of the psychological stressors associated with this particular pandemic and the physical effects of the illness," said Michael Bloomfield, a consultant psychiatrist at University College London. Simon Wessely, regius professor of psychiatry at King’s College London, said the finding that those with mental health disorders are also at higher risk of getting COVID-19 echoed similar findings in previous infectious disease outbreaks. "COVID-19 affects the central nervous system, and so might directly increase subsequent disorders. But this research confirms that is not the whole story, and that this risk is increased by previous ill health," he said.

One in five COVID-19 patients develop mental illness within 90 days, study says

Britain`s Prince William contracted COVID-19 in April at a similar time to his father, the heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, a source close to his Kensington Palace office said. William, 38, grandson of Queen Elizabeth and second-in-line to the British throne, kept his diagnosis a secret because he did not want to alarm the country, said The Sun newspaper, which first reported the news. 
 
"There were important things going on and I didn`t want to worry anyone," William was quoted by the newspaper as having told an observer at an engagement. He was treated by palace doctors and followed government guidelines by isolating at his family's home Anmer Hall, in Norfolk in eastern England, the newspaper said, adding he had still carried out 14 telephone and video call engagements during April.

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"William was hit pretty hard by the virus - it really knocked him for six. At one stage he was struggling to breathe, so obviously everyone around him was pretty panicked," an unnamed source told The Sun. Kensington Palace declined to comment officially on the story but did not deny The Sun`s report. 
The Daily Mail newspaper said that neither William`s wife Kate nor his young children George, Charlotte and Louis had tested positive for the virus. 
 
William contracted the virus a couple of weeks after it was disclosed that his father had tested positive in March. Prince Charles, 71, self-isolated at his residence in Scotland for seven days with mild symptoms of the disease.

 
 
Queen Elizabeth, 94, and her husband Prince Philip, 99, spent the early months of the pandemic shielding at Windsor Castle, the monarch`s residence west of London, and avoiding contact with other family members due to their advanced age. 
 
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson needed hospital treatment after he contracted COVID-19 at the end of March and a number of other ministers were also struck down by the illness. Britain has been hit hard by the pandemic and has officially reported to date 46,717 COVID-19 deaths - defined as those dying within 28 days of a positive test. 
 
Some commentators were critical of the royals for keeping William`s illness a secret. "If the future king contracts a potentially fatal virus that the entire world is worried about during a lockdown and he and those around him cover it up, that raises serious questions about whether we can trust anything he or his advisers say," Richard Palmer, the royal correspondent for the Daily Express newspaper, said on Twitter.

Britain`s Prince William contracted COVID-19 in April at a similar time to his father, the heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, a source close to his Kensington Palace office said.

Britain`s Prince William contracted COVID-19 in April at a similar time to his father, the heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, a source close to his Kensington Palace office said. William, 38, grandson of Queen Elizabeth and second-in-line to the British throne, kept his diagnosis a secret because he did not want to alarm the country, said The Sun newspaper, which first reported the news. "There were important things going on and I didn`t want to worry anyone," William was quoted by the newspaper as having told an observer at an engagement. He was treated by palace doctors and followed government guidelines by isolating at his family's home Anmer Hall, in Norfolk in eastern England, the newspaper said, adding he had still carried out 14 telephone and video call engagements during April. Sophie Turner to voice Princess Charlotte in Grey Janetti's animated show 'The Prince' "William was hit pretty hard by the virus - it really knocked him for six. At one stage he was struggling to breathe, so obviously everyone around him was pretty panicked," an unnamed source told The Sun. Kensington Palace declined to comment officially on the story but did not deny The Sun`s report. The Daily Mail newspaper said that neither William`s wife Kate nor his young children George, Charlotte and Louis had tested positive for the virus. William contracted the virus a couple of weeks after it was disclosed that his father had tested positive in March. Prince Charles, 71, self-isolated at his residence in Scotland for seven days with mild symptoms of the disease. Queen Elizabeth, 94, and her husband Prince Philip, 99, spent the early months of the pandemic shielding at Windsor Castle, the monarch`s residence west of London, and avoiding contact with other family members due to their advanced age. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson needed hospital treatment after he contracted COVID-19 at the end of March and a number of other ministers were also struck down by the illness. Britain has been hit hard by the pandemic and has officially reported to date 46,717 COVID-19 deaths - defined as those dying within 28 days of a positive test. Some commentators were critical of the royals for keeping William`s illness a secret. "If the future king contracts a potentially fatal virus that the entire world is worried about during a lockdown and he and those around him cover it up, that raises serious questions about whether we can trust anything he or his advisers say," Richard Palmer, the royal correspondent for the Daily Express newspaper, said on Twitter.

Britain's Prince William caught COVID-19 in April

India will brief foreign envoys and diplomats based in the Indian capital city New Delhi next week in a mega exercise on its COVID action plan. The briefing will take place on November 06 and will be done by India's foreign secretary Harsh Shringla.

This is not the first time India is briefing foreign diplomats on its COVID action plan and response. In the past also such briefing have been conducted.

Amidst the COVID crisis, India has reached out to more than 150 countries with medicines such as HCQ, Paracetamol. During his United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) speech, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured the global community that "India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis" and will also "help all the countries in enhancing their cold chain and storage capacities for the delivery of vaccines."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-covid-19-tally-surges-past-81-million-recovery-rate-stands-at-9134-339188">Also read|&nbsp;India's COVID-19 tally surges past 8.1 million; recovery rate stands at 91.34%</a>

The focus will also be on the vaccine, with Health minister Harsh Vardhan claimed expressing hope that by early 2021 India will likely get a vaccine. As of now, three vaccines are in advanced stages of development in the country, out of which two are in phase two and one is in phase three. &nbsp;

India's Scientists and Research Teams are collaborating and strengthening the research capacities in neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmar, Qatar and Bhutan have requested for clinical trials in their countries.

In fact, on vaccine development, Indian officials with counterparts from Myanmar and Bangladesh have had meetings. This has also been the top focus during the foreign secretary's visit to both these countries. During a Myanmar visit earlier this month along with Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, India gifted 3000 vials of Anti Covid Remdesivir to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi as a "symbol" of India‘s commitment to helping Myanmar mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

For the neighbourhood, India has organised two training modules in which about 90 health experts and scientists have participated.

India will brief foreign envoys and diplomats based in the Indian capital city New Delhi next week in a mega exercise on its COVID action plan. The briefing will take place on November 06 and will be done by India's foreign secretary Harsh Shringla.

India will brief foreign envoys and diplomats based in the Indian capital city New Delhi next week in a mega exercise on its COVID action plan. The briefing will take place on November 06 and will be done by India's foreign secretary Harsh Shringla. This is not the first time India is briefing foreign diplomats on its COVID action plan and response. In the past also such briefing have been conducted. Amidst the COVID crisis, India has reached out to more than 150 countries with medicines such as HCQ, Paracetamol. During his United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) speech, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured the global community that "India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis" and will also "help all the countries in enhancing their cold chain and storage capacities for the delivery of vaccines." Also read| India's COVID-19 tally surges past 8.1 million; recovery rate stands at 91.34% The focus will also be on the vaccine, with Health minister Harsh Vardhan claimed expressing hope that by early 2021 India will likely get a vaccine. As of now, three vaccines are in advanced stages of development in the country, out of which two are in phase two and one is in phase three. India's Scientists and Research Teams are collaborating and strengthening the research capacities in neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmar, Qatar and Bhutan have requested for clinical trials in their countries. In fact, on vaccine development, Indian officials with counterparts from Myanmar and Bangladesh have had meetings. This has also been the top focus during the foreign secretary's visit to both these countries. During a Myanmar visit earlier this month along with Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, India gifted 3000 vials of Anti Covid Remdesivir to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi as a "symbol" of India‘s commitment to helping Myanmar mitigate the impact of the pandemic. For the neighbourhood, India has organised two training modules in which about 90 health experts and scientists have participated.

India to brief foreign envoys on its COVID response on November 6

US Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff Marc Short has tested positive for the coronavirus, shortly after it was reported that the vice president's political aide Marty Obst had tested positive.

Pence's spokesperson Devin O'Malley said on Saturday, as quoted by ABC News, that "in consultation with the White House Medical Unit, the Vice President will maintain his schedule in accordance with the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines for essential personnel."

O'Malley said that both Pence and his wife Karen Pence tested negative for COVID-19 on Saturday, while Marc Short and Marty Obst tested positive, according to ABC News. Since Short is a "close contact," Pence is now required, under CDC guidelines, to wear a facemask around people and to be closely monitored for any coronavirus symptoms.

Marty Obst tested positive for the coronavirus last week, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ABC News on Saturday.

According to ABC, Obst is an outside adviser and not a government employee. He was last seen at a fundraiser event attended by both Pence and US President Donald Trump on October 15.

Trump was hospitalized with COVID-19 at the Walter Reed Military Medical Center on October 2, not long after announcing on Twitter that he and his wife Melania had tested positive for the coronavirus.

That same week, Pence and second lady Karen Pence tested negative for the coronavirus, according to Pence's spokesman Devin O'Malley.

White House Physician, Dr Sean Conley, announced on October 12 that Trump had tested negative for COVID-19 on consecutive days.

First Lady Melania Trump announced last week that the First Family's son Barron, 14, had contracted COVID-19 but exhibited no symptoms and subsequently tested negative.

US Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff Marc Short has tested positive for the coronavirus, shortly after it was reported that the vice president's political aide Marty Obst had tested positive.

US Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff Marc Short has tested positive for the coronavirus, shortly after it was reported that the vice president's political aide Marty Obst had tested positive. Pence's spokesperson Devin O'Malley said on Saturday, as quoted by ABC News, that "in consultation with the White House Medical Unit, the Vice President will maintain his schedule in accordance with the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines for essential personnel." O'Malley said that both Pence and his wife Karen Pence tested negative for COVID-19 on Saturday, while Marc Short and Marty Obst tested positive, according to ABC News. Since Short is a "close contact," Pence is now required, under CDC guidelines, to wear a facemask around people and to be closely monitored for any coronavirus symptoms. Marty Obst tested positive for the coronavirus last week, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ABC News on Saturday. According to ABC, Obst is an outside adviser and not a government employee. He was last seen at a fundraiser event attended by both Pence and US President Donald Trump on October 15. Trump was hospitalized with COVID-19 at the Walter Reed Military Medical Center on October 2, not long after announcing on Twitter that he and his wife Melania had tested positive for the coronavirus. That same week, Pence and second lady Karen Pence tested negative for the coronavirus, according to Pence's spokesman Devin O'Malley. White House Physician, Dr Sean Conley, announced on October 12 that Trump had tested negative for COVID-19 on consecutive days. First Lady Melania Trump announced last week that the First Family's son Barron, 14, had contracted COVID-19 but exhibited no symptoms and subsequently tested negative.

US Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff tests positive for COVID-19

A study claimed vaccines can take an average of 10 years to develop. But scientists may come up with a vaccine for the Wuhan Coronavirus in less than a year. Fast-tracking a vaccine has also raised the risks. WION's Palki Sharma tells you why the urgency could compromise the process.

Gravitas: Hunt for a vaccine, The hefty cost for cutting corners

With coronavirus cases skyrocketing in Britain again, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the House of Commons about a three-tier lockdown plan to focus on areas where the potentially deadly virus is spreading.

Boris Johnson announces 3-tier lockdown plan in Britain

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