Highlights: Jharkhand’s health minister Banna Gupta says he is Covid-19 positive

A man was booked for allegedly violating Covid-19 lockdown norms by celebrating his birthday in presence of over 50 people in Kalwa town of Maharashtra's Thane district: Police

Tamil Nadu reports 5,709 new cases and 121 deaths today taking the total number of cases to 3,49,654 including 6,007 deaths and 53,860 active cases: State Health Department

Health authorities in Indore start conducting rapid antigen tests for faster detection of Covid-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh's worst-hit district: Official

Australia has secured access to a "promising" coronavirus vaccine, the prime minister announced Tuesday, saying the country would manufacture it and offer free doses to the entire population, reports AFP.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia had reached a deal with Swedish-British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to receive the Covid-19 vaccine it is developing with Oxford University.

"If this vaccine proves successful we will manufacture and supply vaccines straight away under our own steam and make it free for 25 million Australians," he said.

In Manipur, 78 new Covid-19 cases reported on Tuesday, including 5 personnel from CAPF. The total number of cases in the State stands at 4,765 including 1,221 central security personnel. The recovery rate is 58.53%: State Health Department

Brazil's health regulator Anvisa on Tuesday said it had approved stage 3 clinical trials for a potential COVID-19 vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical subsidiary Janssen, reports Reuters.

Brazil is the second-worst hit country for coronavirus cases and deaths after the United States, leading many companies to seek out clinical trials here. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine candidate is the fourth to be approved for human trials in Brazil, Anvisa said in its statement.

Uttar Pradesh reports its worst single-day spike of 70 fatalities, pushing Covid-19 death toll in state to 2,585; infection tally reaches 1,62,434 with 4,218 fresh cases in 24 hours; active case count 50,242: Official

Andhra Pradesh reported 9,652 new Covid-19 cases, 9211 recoveries and 88 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases stands at 3,06,261 including 85,130 active cases, 2,18,311 recoveries and 2820 deaths till date: State Health Department, Andhra Pradesh

Total number of Covid-19 cases rises to 815 in Mizoram, including 436 active cases and 379 discharged cases: State Health Department, Mizoram

Total 13 people, associated with the security of Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur have tested positive for Covid-19. These 13 includes 12 security personnel & one driver of the Chief Minister: Dr Surekha Chopra, Chief Medical Officer, Shimla district

As far as vaccines are concerned, PM had assured the country on Independence Day. He had said that three vaccines are being developed in India & are in different stages. One of them will enter phase 3 trial today or tomorrow. The other two are in phase 1 & 2 trials: VK Paul, NITI Aayog

Recovered patients more than 19.70 lakhs which is 2.93 times the active cases. Case fatality rate is below 2%: Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Union Health Ministry.

India recorded the highest ever number of Covid-19 tests in the last 24 hours - a little more than 8,99,000: Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Union Health Ministry.

Singapore reported 100 new Covid-19 cases, mostly foreign workers, pushing the nationwide tally to 55,938, the health ministry said on Tuesday.The new patients included two imported and one community cases, it said. Most of the new infections are reported among foreign workers who are under quarantine, the ministry said.

Streets in Puducherry on Tuesday wore a deserted look and shops and establishments remained closed as the Union Territory observed a complete lockdown in view of the surge in Covid-19 cases.