(Contains Press releases concerning Covid-19, issued in last 24 hours, inputs from PIB Field Offices and Fact checks undertaken by PIB)

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Daily Recoveries outnumbering daily New Cases ensures steady decline in the Active Caseload, Active Caseload falls below 4.5% of the Total Cases

India has reported more daily recoveries than the daily new cases during the past 24 hours. While 35,551 persons were found to be infected with COVID in India, during the same period, India has registered 40,726 new recoveries. It has led to a net decline of 5,701 cases from the total Active Caseload in the last 24 hours.The new recoveries continue to overtake the daily new cases continuously since the past 6 days.India’s active caseload has fallen under the 4.5% mark today.The trend of more daily recoveries than the daily cases has led to a continuous contraction of India’s Active Caseload. It has ensured that India’s present active caseload of 4,22,943 consists of just 4.44% of India’s Total Positive Cases. New Recoveries outnumbering the daily New Cases has also improved the Recovery Rate to 94.11% today. The total recovered cases stand at 89,73,373. The gap between Recovered cases and Active cases is steadily increasing and presently stands at 85,50,430.77.64% of the new recovered cases are contributed by ten States/UTs. With 5,924 persons recovering from COVID, Kerala recorded maximum number of recoveries. Delhi registered another 5,329 daily recoveries while Maharashtra 3,796 new recoveries. Ten States/UTs have contributed 75.5% of the new cases. Kerala reported 6,316 cases in the last 24 hours. Delhi recorded 3,944 new cases while Maharashtra registered 3,350 new cases yesterday. 79.28% of the 526 case fatalities that have been reported in the past 24 hours are from Ten States/UTs. 21.10% of new fatalities reported are from Maharashtra which reported 111 deaths. Delhi also saw a fatality count of 82 while West Bengal reported 51 new deaths.

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PM’s message on International Day of Persons with Disabilities

On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “In line with the year’s United Nation’s theme of “Building Back Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 World”, let us collectively keep working towards ensuring opportunity and improving accessibility for our Divyang sisters and brothers. The resilience and fortitude of persons with disabilities inspires us. Under the Accessible India initiative, numerous measures have been taken that ensure there is a positive change in the lives of our Divyang sisters and brothers”.

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Vice President calls upon youngsters to draw inspiration from Dr Kalam and work towards building a strong, self-reliant and inclusive India.

The Vice President Shri M Venkaiah Naidu called upon youngsters to draw inspiration from former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and work towards building a strong, self-reliant and inclusive India. He said that like Dr Kalam, the youth should think out of the box and use technology for providing solutions to the various economic and societal challenges that impact large sections of India’s population.Speaking at virtual release of the book, '40 Years with Abdul Kalam- Untold Stories' authored by Dr Sivathanu Pillai,today, Shri Naidu expressed his happiness that the book provided a gripping first-hand account of Dr Kalam’s life. "The life of Dr Kalam sends a powerful message about how difficulties and setbacks when taken in the right spirit, serve as the key ingredients in making us robust in character and mindset," he added.Referring to the impact of COVID-19 on the migrant workers, the Vice President stressed the need to create employment and economic opportunities in villages and small towns. "We will have to focus on decentralized planning, capacity building of local bodies and largescale promotion of cottage industries so that our villages and towns emerge as growth centres," he added. For this, Shri Naidu wanted that the local bodies should be motivated to give boost to local development.

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Even in trying times like these, India has not forgotten to help countries who needed assistance – Vice President

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu expressed happiness over India’s extension of help to other needy countries despite facing enormous challenges in taking care of its own population due to Covid-19 pandemic. He said that in these trying times, India has not forgotten to help countries who needed assistance with items such as pharmaceutical products made by our industry.The Vice President addressed the 18th meeting of the Governing Council of Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in virtual mode yesterday. In his opening remarks as the President of ICWA, Shri Naidu said that India has been leading from the front in the global effort to counter the pandemic. “We are also in the vanguard of research endeavours to develop a vaccine and expect good news soon”, he added.The Vice President was of the view that the role and relevance of international relations and foreign policy to the lives of ordinary Indians has been re-emphasized resoundingly during the pandemic period.Shri Naidu specifically referred to the Vande Bharat missions that enabled Indian nationals living and working abroad to return to their homeland and lauded concerned departments and agencies for skillfully managing this huge task.He wanted ICWA to undertake more such people-centric activities and reach out to hitherto untouched audiences around the country.

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Young scientists share innovative ideas in a range of areas at the SCO Young Scientist Conclave

Young scientists shared their innovative ideas in a range of thematic areas in the five days Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Young Scientist Conclave which concluded recently. The areas included agriculture and food processing; sustainable energy and energy storage; biotechnology and bioengineering; combating COVID-19 and emerging pandemics through research and innovation; environmental protection and natural resource management. 22 young scientists were given certificates of appreciation for their innovative research work and ideas on which they would like to work in collaboration with SCO countries. Minister for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, Health, and Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan, who inaugurated the conclave, called upon all the ignited young minds from SCO member states to use science as a tool to improve the quality of life of the common man which is the biggest challenge of this millennium. He exhorted the astute scientists at the 1st SCO Young Scientist Conclave to 'Innovate, Patent, Produce & Prosper' to lead our countries towards faster development.

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Experts discuss how STIP 2020 can help country become future-ready & face situations like COVID 19

Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, Niti Aayog highlighted how COVID 19 created opportunities and will have profound long-term consequences while Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology (DST), underlined how the new Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) 2020 would make us future-ready to face such situations, at a webinar. COVID-19 has hugely impacted the world, but it has also shown us the way forward, Dr. Saraswat said at the webinar on DST Golden Jubilee Discourse Series - On the other side of the Pandemic - organised by National Council for Science & Technology Communication and Vigyan Prasa, recently.

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Vice Chief of the Army Staff Addresses Bangladesh National Defence College on Security Challenges Post COVID -19 Pandemic

Lt Gen SK Saini, the Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) addressed the participants of National Defence Course Bangladesh on “Security Challenges Post COVID – 19 Pandemic” via a virtual platform on 02 December 2020. Earlier in his career, the VCOAS had attended the National Defence College Bangladesh in 2011. The address covered the impact of Corona virus on the emerging world and focused on its impact on military, the security challenges and his views on ways and means to tackle them. On the impact of the virus, the VCOAS said that “strategic security of most nations have been impacted due to reduction in funds for military capability and projects since vast sums of money have been diverted for urgent health requirements”. On the impact of COVID-19 on military, the VCOAS spoke on its impact on force readiness, training, operational logistics and HR issues highlighting that “force sustainment is a challenge due to delays in delivery schedules owing to production halts and workforce disruptions”. Towards suggesting recommendations for post COVID era, to the future senior military leadership attending the course, the VCOAS emphasised that the “militaries of the region must evolve a defence cooperation plan since they will become the first responders during such health disasters”.

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Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah addressed inaugural session of Annual DGsP/IGsP Conference

The inaugural session of 55^th Annual Director Generals of Police/Inspector Generals of Police Conferencewas addressed by the Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah yesterday, in which Heads of various Central Para Military Forces and Director Generals of Police and Inspector Generals of Policeof the States participatedin virtual mode from their respective States. This is the first such Conference organised by the Intelligence Bureau in virtual mode. Paying homage to the Police martyrs, the Union Home Minister awarded Indian Police Medals to 50 awardees and congratulated them on their achievements.In his inaugural address, Shri Amit Shahhighlighted policy issues on national security and applauded the role of the police as frontline warriors in crisis and disaster management. Discussions on the role of police during the COVID-19 pandemic and implementation of safety protocol by the police was also discussed. Follow-up actions were also suggested to develop an SOP to manage various types of emergency situations.

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Ravi Kumar, Deepak Punia among 24 wrestlers to represent India in Wrestling World Cup from December 12, in first international competition since coronavirus outbreak in March

A contingent of 42 members (24 wrestlers, 9 coaches, 3 support staff and 3 referees) will be travelling to Belgrade, Serbia to represent India at the Senior Individual World Cup to be held from December 12 to December 18, 2020. It will be the first international competition that Indian wrestlers will be participating in, after the nationwide lockdown was imposed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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INPUTS FROM PIB FIELD OFFICES

• Maharashtra: Maharashtra saw a significant drop of around 50 per cent in the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths in the month of November in comparison to October and September. In October, Maharashtra had recorded 293,960 Covid-19 cases, which dropped by 50.5 per cent in November to 145,490.  Fatalities reported in October were 7,249, which dropped by 49.09 per cent to 3,690 in November.  Case positivity rate in the state has also dropped to 7.7 per cent.  The number of active cases in the state is 88,537.
• Gujarat: The state reported 1,511 new Covid cases and 1,570 recoveries on Wednesday, while 14 patients succumbed to the infection in the state.  According to Gujarat Health Department, the case positivity rate in Gujarat has come down drastically from 16.15 % in August to 2.98% as of December 1. Active cases- 14,813
• Madhya Pradesh: The COVID-19 caseload in Madhya Pradesh reached 2,08,924 after 1,439 new infections were detected on Wednesday. As many as 17 patients succumbed to the infection during the day, raising the state's death toll to 3,287. On the other hand, 1,838 patients were discharged leaving active cases at 14,019.
• Goa: In Goa, District Collectors have been directed to collect data from public and private health facilities related to health workers, as the Goa administration on Wednesday kick-started preparatory efforts ahead of the proposed national Covid-19 vaccination programme roll out.
• Assam: In Assam, 173 more people tested positive for COVID-19 and 138 patients discharged yesterday. Total cases rise to 213171, total discharged patients 208666, active 3519 and 983 total death.
• Kerala: State Health department has issued a high alert following Burevi cyclone warning; Health Minister K.K. Shylaja said instructions have been given for ensuring all facilities, adhering to Covid protocols, to address health issues that may arise out of heavy rain and cyclone. Kerala is still ahead on daily case load among southern states. 6,316 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed in the state yesterday along with 28 deaths; the test positivity rate stands at 11.08 per cent.
• Tamil Nadu: Despite the colleges reopening after a long gap, a majority of students decided to stay away from campuses owing to the still serious Covid scare in the state. Hours after announcing that he would launch a political party in January 2021, actor Rajinikanth explained how the pandemic had delayed his political entry.
• Karnataka: Karnataka releases Rs 300 crore for vaccine trials, Covid treatment; with 1,000 volunteers to be administered the vaccine initially, the trials being carried out in collaboration with Clintrac International will see two doses being given to volunteers. Hubballi airport bounces back from Covid gloom, sees uptick in footfall; currently Indigo is operating flights between Hubballi-Mumbai flights thrice weekly; it will begin daily flight operations on this route from December 10.
• Andhra Pradesh: East Godavari District Collector D Muralidhar Reddy said that necessary arrangements have been made to distribute the Covid-19 vaccine to about 35,000 medical and health workers in the district in the first phase as per the standard operating guidelines issued by the Central government. The task force would take legal action if anyone was found guilty of spreading rumours and misinformation about the vaccine with malice. Awareness programmes are being conducted for 50 days from December 1 to January 19, the Collector said.
• Telangana: Fearing a second wave of Covid-19 in Telangana after high-intensity campaigns for the recently-concluded GHMC elections, the Director of Public Health in Telangana has advised all the political leaders and cadre involved in electioneering to go under a week’s self-isolation. Telangana has recorded 609 new Covid-19 infections and three fatalities on Wednesday taking the overall toll to 1,465 and the cumulative number of positive cases so far to 2,71,492.

FACT CHECK

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