COVID-19 news from across the nation

As the COVID-19 situation continues to be fragile and the threat is still far from over, a plea was filed in the apex court seeking a direction to the Centre to ensure refund of "exorbitant" amounts charged by private labs and hospitals for conducting RT-PCR tests to detect COVID-19. Meanwhile, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij tested positive for COVID-19 and has been admitted to a hospital.

Hyderabad: Amid growing concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus, a plea was filed on Saturday in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Centre to ensure refund of "outrageous" amounts charged by private labs and hospitals for conducting RT-PCR tests to detect COVID-19.

The interim application has been filed by lawyer and BJP leader Ajay Agrawal in his pending PIL in which he had sought fixing of a uniform rate of Rs 400 across India for the RT-PCR test.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced earlier in the day that three vaccines are in trial stage in India and when ready, healthcare and frontline workers, and elderly persons with serious ailments will be given priority in vaccination.

Speaking on the vaccine challenges and the way forward, PM Modi also said that deliberations are on with the states about the dissemination and pricing of the vaccine.

COVID-19 cases in India

• Delhi

New Delhi:With Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that a COVID vaccine could be ready within weeks, Delhi and Hyderabad airports' air cargo services are all set to play a pivotal role in its distribution through state-of-the-art time and temperature-sensitive distribution systems.

As per the Delhi airport, it has two cargo terminals with world-class infrastructure that provides a GDP (Good Distribution Practice)-certified temperature-controlled facility for handling temperature-sensitive cargo.

• Haryana

Chandigarh:Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij tweeted on Saturday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been admitted to a hospital.

Vij (67) also urged all those who had come in contact with him recently to get tested.

• Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday directed officials to increase storage capacity for anti-coronavirus vaccines, when they become available, as he virtually equated the security for the vaccines with that of electronic voting machines.

At a meeting at his official residence, he directed officials to increase the cold storage capacity to 2.30 lakh litres by December 15, according to an official statement.

Adityanath also said that cold chain facilities would be arranged at each district and divisions.

• Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that schools for Classes 1 to 8 in the state will remain shut till March 31 next year in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

He also said that no test would be conducted for the students of these classes this academic year and they would be evaluated on the basis of their project work.

• Gujarat

Ahmedabad: About 100 police personnel have tested positive for coronavirus in a special drive in Ahmedabad in the last four days, a senior officer said on Saturday.

Among the infected police personnel, two constables have been hospitalised while others are in home isolation, said Joint Commissioner of Police Ajay Chaudhary.

Meanwhile, a sitting judge of the Gujarat High Court died following a cardiac arrest on Saturday while undergoing treatment for coronavirus at a private hospital.