Coronavirus News

The UK on Wednesday became the first country to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19 after "rigorous" analysis by its independent regulator Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

West Bengal Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim became the first volunteer to take a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, in the Phase III trial in Kolkata on Wednesday (December 2).

The number of Covid-19 patients in US hospitals has exceeded 100,000 for the first time, nearly double the peak from the first wave. At 2,658, the United States has witnessed the highest single-day reporting of new coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began.

India's Covid-19 caseload rose to 94.99 lakh, while the total number of people who have recuperated from the disease crossed 89 lakh pushing the national recovery rate to over 94%, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

UK has approved the use of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for high-risk Covid-19 patients. UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority has authorised the emergency use of the vaccine.

The Health Ministry has issued new COVID-19 guidelines for market places. These include fines for not wearing masks and discounts for shopping during lean hours. The SOPs outlined that market places in containment zones shall remain closed.  

The Centre informed the apex court that although it has not prescribed this rule, the practice has nothing to do with "stigmatising" Covid-19 patients as it is aimed at protecting other people.

Amid allegations that the Covishield vaccine had triggered severe neurological complications in one of the trial participants, the Serum Institute of India on Tuesday reiterated their statements that the vaccine was "safe and immunogenic".  

The phase III trial of Covaxin, the vaccine for COVID-19, at the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Disease (NICED) in Kolkata will start from December 2.  

US-based pharma company Moderna Inc has claimed that its vaccine is 100 per cent effective against severe Covid-19. The company also said that it will apply for US and European emergency authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine.