Highlights: Italy reports 8,913 new Covid-19 cases, 305 deaths

On the same day of beginning its Covid-19 vaccination program, Italy recorded 8,913 new infections and 305 fatalities, the Associated Press (AP) reports.

Earlier on Sunday, initial doses of the Pfizer - BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine were administered to health care workers in Rome.

Norwegian Institute of Public Health reported that two people who came back to Norway from the UK in early December, have tested positive for the new Covid-19 strain. The institute also said that the close contacts of the two travelers would be traced by health workers, reports news agency Reuters.

With 946 new cases and 18 fatalities, Madhya Pradesh's Covid-19 tally reached 38,352 cases and 10,097 deaths, reports news agency ANI.

Madhya Pradesh reports 946 new #COVID19 cases, 1,160 recoveries, and 18 deaths today.

Total cases: 2,38,352
Total recoveries: 2,24,692
Death toll: 3,563
Active cases: 10,097 pic.twitter.com/U6WcGZgeoc

— ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2020

Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has been hospitalized at the Doon hospital in Dehradun after developing a mild fever. He had earlier tested positive for Covid-19 on December 18.

Covid-19 nodal officer at the hospital Dr Anurag Agarwal said “His health condition is fine but as a precaution, we advised him to get admitted” and that the CM is under constant medical supervision.

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Haryana state health department has reported 362 new Covid-19 infections and 9 deaths taking the tally to 260,907 cases and 2,874 deaths.

Active caseload in the state stands at 4,268 cases. Also, 253,765 patients were discharged after recovery taking the recovery rate to 97.26 per cent, reports PTI.

Telangana state health department has reported two more Covid-19 positive UK returnees in the state, taking the count to 20 infections among those who returned from the United Kingdom.

Samples of these patients have been sent for further examination to check for the new Covid-19 strain, reports ANI.

Madhya Pradesh assembly's winter session, initially scheduled to convene on December 28, 2020 has been postponed due to the Covid-19 situation prevailing, an official said.

Following an all party meeting, the legislative assembly's principal secretary A P Singh said, "The three-day session has been postponed due to the COVID-19 situation. These days ( of the session which will be washed out) will be added in the Budget session, which would be a lengthy one," reports news agency PTI.

Delhi health department has reported 757 new Covid-19 cases, 939 recoveries and 16 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 622,851 cases, 605,685 recoveries and 10,453 deaths, reports news agency ANI.

Delhi reports 757 new #COVID19 cases, 939 recoveries and 16 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Delhi Health Department

Total cases: 6,22,851
Total recoveries: 6,05,685
Death toll: 10,453
Active cases: 6,713 pic.twitter.com/Eolbl5XHcY

— ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2020

Andhra Pradesh reported 349 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the state's tally to 881,061 total cases and 7,094 fatalities, news agency ANI reported.

Andhra Pradesh reports 349 new #COVID19 cases, taking the total number of cases to 8,81,061, as per State Health Department

Recovered cases: 8,70,342
Active cases: 3,625
Deaths: 7,094 pic.twitter.com/25dAqiQ2tx

— ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2020

With 959 new cases and 31 deaths, Uttar Pradesh's Covid-19 tally reached 581,980 total cases and 8,306 deaths, according to a government statement.

In the last 24 hours, 1,391 recoveries were reported, taking the total recoveries to 558,303 patients. The state currently has 15,371 active cases, news agency PTI reported.

With 39 new Covid-19 cases, Ladakh's Covid-19 tally reached 9,394 cases according to officials. The union territory has also reported 126 overall Covid-19 deaths.

Total recoveries stand at 9,050 patients with 31 new recoveries. Ladakh currently has 218 active Covid-19 cases, reports news agency PTI.

The Israeli government is ramping up the pace of their Covid-19 vaccination program in hopes of emerging out of the pandemic by March 2021 successfully as a new lockdown would be imposed in the country from Sunday.

Currently Israel is administering close to 70,000 vaccine shots a day and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hopes to increase this count 150,000 in the coming week, reports Reuters.

Italy commenced its Covid-19 vaccination program in Rome, with three health workers receiving the first dose. Vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech has been used for the inoculation program.

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Canadian authorities said on Sunday that the country has detected its first two cases of the new coronavirus strain, in a couple living in Durham, Ontario. The couple have no history of international travel and were traced as a result of Ontario administration's continued testing and tracing efforts, reported news agency ANI.

South Korea on Sunday reported 970 new cases of Covid-19 taking the country's tally to 56,872, marking the third consecutive day with a daily increase of less than 1000. 15 fatalities were also recorded pushing the death toll to 808, reported news agency ANI.