Highlights: Odisha caps price of Covid-19 RT PCR tests at ₹400, cheapest in I

The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for Covid-19 in Karnataka has said the second wave of the pandemic is expected in early 2021 and has made a slew of recommendations including banning public celebrations ahead of the new year in a bid to avert a crisis, reports PTI.

Safety of the vaccine has been scrutinised independently by our Commission on Human Medicines & no stone has been left unturned so absolute confidence in safety, effectiveness & quality of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine: UK's medicine regulator MHRA chief Dr June Raine https://t.co/nkt2RX32Fn

— ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2020

Italy's health minister Roberto Speranza has told parliament that Italy will launch a massive, free coronavirus vaccination programme early next year, with health workers and the elderly to be given priority.

Delhi reports 3,944 new Covid-19 cases, 5,329 recoveries, and 82 deaths, as per Delhi health department.

Delhi reports 3,944 new COVID-19 cases, 5,329 recoveries, and 82 deaths, as per Delhi Health Department

Total cases: 5,78,324

Total recoveries: 5,38,680

Death toll: 9,342

Active cases: 30,302 pic.twitter.com/37x9OuEYXJ

— ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2020

Russia recorded highest single-day count of Covid-19 deaths in last 24 hours as 589 fatalities take death toll to 41,053. 25,345 new cases take total tally to 2,347,401.

National Green Tribunal (NGT) extends ban on the sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers during the Covid-19 pandemic, in Delhi-NCR and all cities/towns in the country where the ambient air quality falls under the ‘poor’ and above category.

Telangana recorded 565 new Covid-19 cases, 925 recoveries and 1 death on December 1. Total cases at 270,883 including 260,155 recoveries, 9,266 active cases and 1,462 deaths.

West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankar inaugurates Phase 3 trials of Covaxin at Kolkata.

West Bengal: Governor Jagdeep Dhankar inaugurates Phase 3 of Covaxin at the Indian Council of Medical Research- National Institute of Cholera & Enteric Diseases (ICMR-NICED) in Kolkata pic.twitter.com/tabEAPKfZ5

— ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2020

UK authorises Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, to be made available across the country from next week.

Odisha govt caps price of RT-PCR tests by private labs at ₹400. 480 new cases, meanwhile, take state's Covid-19 tally to 319,583.

I think they're doing clinical trial on about 1600-1800 people in Karnataka. CM has officially announced and given first dose today through Vydehi institution. I hope third phase will be very successful and will be devoid of adverse effects on any individual: Karnataka health minister K Sudhakar

Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa virtually inaugurates phase 3 of clinical trial of Covaxin being developed by Bharat Biotech.

Karnataka: Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa virtually inaugurates Phase 3 of clinical trial of Covaxin being developed by Bharat Biotech

The trials will be conducted at Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre in Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/JdwAAg0L3w

— ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2020

Positivity rate has declined below 7%. It is expected to go below 5% in the next few days. Currently, more than 1600 ICU beds are available in hospitals in Delhi: Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain

The Gujarat high court has ordered community service at COVID-19 care centres for those who do not wear masks, directs State Government to issue a notification.

Brazil's health ministry on Tuesday said the country recorded 50,909 new Covid-19 cases and 697 deaths in preceding 24 hours. National tally reaches 6,386,787 including 173,817 deaths.