COVID-19 news from across the nation

So far, India has recorded 97,35,850 confirmed COVID- 19 cases, including 1,41,360 deaths. A total of 92,15,581 patients have recovered, as per the latest data from the Union Health Ministry. However, there are around 3,78,909 active cases in the country

Hyderabad: An expert committee of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is scheduled to meet on Wednesday (December 9) to review applications for the emergency-use approval of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer, Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech.

Global pharma major Pfizer has said it will have differential pricing on its COVID-19 vaccine for different countries, as the company aims to make the vaccine available across the world. The company's Indian arm has sought emergency use authorisation (EUA) for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19 in the country fromthe Indian drug regulator.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said putting up posters or signs outside the homes of Covid-positive patients, to indicate they were suffering from the disease, was no longer required unless there was the direction from a competent authority. The apex court said posters could be affixed in specific cases by authorities under the Disaster Management Act.

COVID-19 news from across the nation

Delhi

New Delhi: With a high number of tests being conducted and fewer new cases reported, the average positivity rate—the proportion of samples that test positive for Covid-19—remained below 5% for the seventh day in a row on Wednesday.

Of the 75,409 tests conducted, 31,098 (41%) were done using the RT-PCR method — the gold standard for coronavirus diagnosis. Experts have warned that if the RT-PCR tests slacken, it could catch the Capital off guard if the outbreak begins resurging.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Around 2.6 lakh government employees in the healthcare sector including doctors and nurses will get the coronavirus vaccine in the first round of inoculation in Maharashtra, an official said on Wednesday. The state government on Wednesday held its first review meeting on the preparation for vaccination, where facilities of storage and transportation, finalization of lists of beneficiaries and setting up of vaccination booths were discussed, he said.

Telangana

Hyderabad:The 64 foreign envoys arrive at Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad, in continuation of the briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The participants were briefed on India’s indigenous efforts to develop COVID19 vaccines, incl ongoing clinical trials. India’s R&D facilities, manufacturing capacity, foreign collaborations, etc. in fields of pharmaceuticals, including vaccine production, were highlighted: MEA

Karnataka

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Wednesday notified a slash in prices collected by laboratories across the state to test Covid-19. As per the revised price list, each Covid-19 sample sent by the government to private labs will now be tested for Rs 500, down from the existing cost of Rs 1200. Meanwhile, the ceiling rate for private samples in private laboratories is now being capped at Rs 800 as opposed to the cost of Rs 1600.