Highlights: US approves Pfizer Covid shot, first shipment to arrive on Monday

With 30,005 new Covid-19 infections in the last 24 hours, the total cases in India crossed 98-lakh mark and has now reached 98,26,775, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's (MoHFW) data on Saturday. After 442 new deaths related to the virus reported in the single day, the cumulative toll mounted to 1,42,628. The country reported more discharges than new cases in the last 24 hours bringing down the active cases tally to 3,59,819, which is the lowest after nearly 145 days. The total active cases were 3,58,692 on July 18. The total discharged cases now reached 93,24,328 with 33,494 new discharges in the last 24 hours. Maharashtra has 74,408 active coronavirus cases, followed by Kerala with 59,528 cases.

Meanwhile, US gave the final go-ahead to the nation’s first Covid-19 vaccine, marking what could be the beginning of the end of an outbreak that has killed nearly 300,000 Americans. Shots for health workers and nursing home residents are expected to begin in the coming days after the Food and Drug Administration authorized an emergency rollout of what promises to be a strongly protective vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech.

11:14 PM IST

US approves Pfizer Covid shot, first shipment to arrive on Monday

The first US Covid-19 vaccine shipments will arrive at 145 locations around the country on Monday morning, US Army General Gus Perna said on Saturday during a press briefing, reports Reuters.

10:23 PM IST

Chhattisgarh logs 1,632 Covid-19 cases, 16 deaths

Chhattisgarh's Covid-19 count climbed to 2,55,761 on Saturday after 1,632 people were detected with the infection, while the number of people who have recovered reached 2,34,037, an official said, reports PTI.

09:42 PM IST

Nashik in Maharashtra records 318 new coronavirus cases

The number of Covid-19 cases in Nashik reached 1,05,114 on Saturday after 318 people were detected with the infection, an official said, reports PTI.

09:09 PM IST

Active covid cases tally in Punjab reaches 7,091

Punjab reports 482 new #COVID19 cases, 654 discharges, and 21 deaths today, says Govt of Punjab.

Total cases in the State rise to 1,59,579 including 1,47,431 recoveries and 5,057 deaths.

Active cases stand at 7,091 pic.twitter.com/C195OoyQkm
— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2020

08:44 PM IST

Covid vaccine to be free in Kerala: CM Pinarayi

COVID vaccine will be provided free of cost in the state: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan pic.twitter.com/MTQ2FyjEcp
— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2020

08:24 PM IST

Gujarat records 1,203 new Covid cases, 12 deaths

Gujarat reports 1,203 new cases of #COVID19, 12 deaths and 1338 discharged/recovered cases today.

Total number of cases now at 2,26,508 with 2,08,867 recoveries, 13,481 active cases and 4,160 deaths.
— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2020

07:50 PM IST

Active coronavirus caseload reaches 73,542 in Maharashtra

Maharashtra reports 4,259 new #COVID19 cases, 3,949 discharges, and 80 deaths today, as per State Health Department

Total cases 18,76,699
Total recoveries 17,53,922
Death toll 48,139

Active cases 73,542 pic.twitter.com/8h6fcqA6RT
— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2020

07:15 PM IST

Manipur logs 177 Covid cases

Manipur reported 177 new #COVID19 cases, 116 recoveries, and 2 deaths today, says State Health Department, Manipur

Total cases so far: 27,036

Total recoveries: 23,657

Active cases: 3,057

Total Deaths till date: 322

Recovery rate: 87.50% pic.twitter.com/aoRQu9IfJx
— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2020

06:34 PM IST

Tamil Nadu records 1,218 fresh Covid-19 cases

Tamil Nadu reported 1,218 new #COVID19 cases, 1,296 discharges, and 13 deaths in the last 24 hours: State Health Department, Govt of Tamil Nadu

Total positive cases: 7,97,693

Total discharges: 7,75,602

Death toll: 11,883

Active cases: 10,208 pic.twitter.com/hB7DoaPLJs
— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2020

06:01 PM IST

Delhi logs 1,935 new Covid-19 cases, positivity rate slides below 3%

Delhi reports 1935 new #COVID19 cases,3191 recoveries and 47 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total cases 6,05,470
Total recoveries 5,78,116
Death toll 9981

Active cases 17,373 pic.twitter.com/v4lx9j9Qeo
— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2020

05:21 PM IST

Kerala logs 5,949 new cases of coronavirus

5949 new #COVID19 positive cases, 5268 recoveries, 32 deaths reported in Kerala today.

Active cases : 60,029
Total death: 2594
— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2020

05:00 PM IST

Haryana writes to Centre to include public representatives in priority groups for Covid vaccination

The Haryana government has written to the Centre to have public representatives including MPs and MLAs listed among the priority groups for Covid-19 vaccination once it begins, Health Minister Anil Vij on Saturday, reports PTI.

04:28 PM IST

Uttar Pradesh's Covid tally reaches 5,64,132

Uttar Pradesh reports 1,520 new #COVID19 cases, 1,761 discharges, and 32 deaths.

Total cases: 5,64,132
Total recoveries: 5,35,985
Active cases: 20,091
Death toll: 8,056 pic.twitter.com/KSRtq1347G
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 12, 2020

04:02 PM IST

Odisha logs 335 new Covid cases, death toll over 1,800

Odisha's Covid-19 death toll crossed the 1,800-mark on Saturday as four more patients succumbed to the disease, while 335 new cases pushed the tally to 3,23,364, a health department official said, reports PTI.

03:39 PM IST

South Korea logs 950 new Covid cases, prez calls third wave 'emergency'

South Korea reported a record 950 daily coronavirus cases on Saturday, exceeding the late February peak of 909, with the president calling the country's third wave of Covid-19 an "emergency", reports Reuters.