Highlights: Europe to begin mass Covid-19 vaccination program on Sunday

Global coronavirus cases crossed 79.59 million while the death toll stood at 1,747,803. The US and India are the two nations with the highest infections.

Hungary has begun its vaccination drive against the coronavirus with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as per a government official.

Russia crossed 3 million coronavirus cases after the country recorded 29,258 new infections. 563 new fatalities were also recorded.

Thailand recorded 110 new coronavirus infections, taking the country's tally to 6,020. The death toll currently stands at 60.

Asia's largest slum, Dharavi, recorded zero coronavirus infections for the first time since the outbreak. State and Central government officials praised the residents of Dharavi for their cooperation in achieving this milestone.

Telangana reported 317 new coronavirus infections, taking the state's tally to 2,84,391. The death toll after two new fatalities rose to 1,529.

A total of 317 new #COVID19 cases, 536 discharges and 2 deaths were reported in Telangana yesterday, says State Health Department

Total positive cases: 2,84,391

Total recoveries: 2,76,244

Active cases: 6,618

Death toll: 1,529 pic.twitter.com/2ZSKubFwHi

— ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2020

The Russian government approved the Sputnik-V coronavirus vaccine on Saturday after it was tested on this particular age group as per the country's health ministry.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that the union territory administration was prepared to administer the coronavirus vaccine when available to the selected persons.

The Japanese capital, Tokyo, reported 949 new coronavirus infections, its highest daily record yet, on Saturday.

Germany reported 14,455 new Covid-19 cases, taking the country's tally to 1,627,103. The death toll after 240 new fatalities stands at 29,422.

South Korea reported 1,132 new coronavirus infections on Friday taking the country's overall tally to 54,770. The death toll currently stands at 773.

The Union Health Ministry said that India has been recording fewer than 30,000 cases per day for the past 13 days and that daily recoveries were outnumbering daily cases for the past 29 days.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that India's cumulative recoveries highest in the world as the country inched closer to 97.5 lakh recoveries. The recovery rate is 95.78% and 2.77% of the overall caseload are active today.

The ICMR said that 16,71,59,289 have been tested until December 25, of which 8,53,527 were tested yesterday.

India recorded 22,273 new coronavirus infections, taking the country's tally to 10,169,118 including 2,81,667 active cases. 22,274 people have been discharged taking the total number of recoveries to 97,40,108 while the death toll after 251 new fatalities stands at 1,47,343.