(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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India’s Active Caseload further dips to 4.35% of Total Cases, Daily Recoveries outnumber daily New Cases for the past 7 Days, More than 0.9 Cr Cumulative Recoveries registered

India’s active caseload has fallen to 4.35% mark today from 4.44% yesterday. Continuing with the trend of the last 7 days, India has reported more daily recoveries than the daily new cases during the past 24 hours. India’s Active Caseload  presently stands at 4,16,082 today. While 36,595 persons in India were found to be infected with COVID, 42,916 new recoveries were registeredduring the same period. The difference of 6,321 between new recoveries and new cases has led to a net decline of 6,861 cases from the total Active Caseload in the last 24 hours. India still continues to have one of the lowest cases per million population in the world (6,936) much lower than many other countries of the Western Hemisphere. The Recovery Rate has improved to 94.2% today. The total recovered cases stand at 90,16,289. The gap between Recovered cases and Active cases is steadily increasing andpresently stands at 86,00,207. 80.19% of the new recovered cases are contributed by ten States/UTs. Maharashtra leads with 8,066 persons recovering from COVID while Kerala recorded 5,590 recoveries. Delhi registered another 4,834 daily recoveries. Ten States/UTs have contributed 75.76% of the new cases. Kerala reported 5,376 cases in the last 24 hours. Maharashtra registered 5,182 new cases yesterday while Delhi recorded 3,734 new cases. 540 case fatalities that have been reported in the past 24 hours. 77.78% of them are from Ten States/UTs. 21.29% of new fatalities reported are from Maharashtra which reported 115 deaths. Delhi also saw a fatality count of 82 while West Bengal reported 49 new deaths. When compared globally, India has one of the lowest case fatalities per million population (101).

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PM holds All Party Meeting to discuss Covid-19 vaccination strategy; Eight potential vaccines including three indigenous ones are in different stages of trial in India: PM

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the All Party Meeting today via video conferencing to discuss the Covid-19 vaccination strategy in India. The Prime Minister said that the government is developing a comprehensive vaccination strategy. He emphasised that the world is looking towards India for the development of a safe and affordable vaccine.The Prime Minister shared his experience of visiting the vaccine manufacturing facilities in Ahmedabad, Pune, and Hyderabad, informing that about eight potential vaccines, currently in different stages of trial, will be manufactured in India, that includes the three indigenous vaccines. The Prime Minister said that it is expected that the vaccine will be available in the coming few weeks. The vaccination campaign will kickstart in India as soon as the vaccine is approved by the scientists. The Central government is working in close coordination with the State governments to identify the priority groups for vaccination. Underlining India's vaccine distribution expertise, capacity and presence of an experienced and vast network for vaccination, the Prime Minister said that this will help us in streamlining Covid vaccination. Collaboration with State Governments will be established for additional cold chain equipment and other such logistical requirements.

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Text of PM’s closing remarks at All Party Meeting

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Vice President releases commemorative postage stamp in honour of late Prime Minister, Shri I K Gujral

The Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu today paid rich tributes to the late Prime Minister, Shri I K Gujral while releasing through virtual mode a commemorative postage stamp in his honor. The Vice President said Shri Gujral was a learned man, soft-spoken and a “gentleman-politician”, who never compromised on his values irrespective of the challenges or hardships he had faced. “Bearing an amiable demeanour, he was courteous to a fault and made friends across the political spectrum”, he added. Shri Naidu also appealed to the people to not lower the guard and continue to take all precautions by following COVID-19 protocols like wearing a mask, frequent hand-washing and maintaining a safe distance.

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INPUTS FROM PIB FIELD OFFICES

• Assam: In Assam, 165 cases detected out of 28,008 tests conducted with positivity rate of 0.59% while 177 patients are discharged. Total cases- 2,13,336 out of which recovered- 97.89% & active cases- 1.64%, State Health Minister tweeted.
• Manipur: Three more deaths recorded to take total COVID-19 toll to 296, official report yet to mention two deaths.
• Meghalaya: In the wake of two more deaths due to COVID-19 in Meghalaya during the last 24 hours, the death toll in the state went up to 116 while 52 new COVID-19 positive cases were detected in the state during the period. The number of active cases as on date is 648.
• Sikkim: With 27 new cases, active COVID-19 cases in Sikkim stand at 320.
• Maharashtra: The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation is gearing up to vaccinate around 1 crore people in a month as soon as the vaccine is approved. For this, the civic body has made a blueprint of the vaccination process and they are planning to vaccinate Mumbaikars first. The civic body also has plans to include medical staff, solid waste management staff, police force and citizens above 50 years in the priority list for vaccination.
• Gujarat: Gujarat recorded 1,540 fresh cases of coronavirus and 13 deaths in the last 24 hours. The caseload in the state, thus, rose to 2,14,309 while death toll reached 4,031. Also, 1,427 patients were discharged during the day.  Meanwhile, the Gujarat High Court order of compulsory social service at Covid Centre for those not wearing mask was stayed on Thursday by the Supreme Court.  The number of active cases in Gujarat is 14,913.
• Rajasthan: - Rajasthan recorded 2,086 fresh coronavirus cases and 20 fatalities due to the disease on Thursday, taking the infection tally to 2,74,486 and the death toll from the pandemic to 2,370.  A maximum of 590 fresh cases were reported from Jaipur, followed by 201 in Jodhpur and 149 in Kota among the major cities.  The active cases in the state has risen to 25,544 during the post Diwali period.
• Madhya Pradesh - Madhya Pradesh on Thursday recorded 1,450 new COVID-19 cases, taking the count of infections to 2,10,374. With 13 more people succumbing, the death toll due to the pandemic rose to 3,300.  Of 1,450 new cases, Indore district accounted for 560 and Bhopal 375.
• Kerala: Left MPs from Kerala who attended today’s all-party meet convened by Prime Minister have urged that Covid vaccine should be distributed free of cost. They pointed out that the proposed cost of Rs 2,500 per dose is not affordable for the common people. Meanwhile, the state recorded its highest single-day death toll yesterday after 31 deaths were confirmed as due to Covid-19. The state recorded 5,376 fresh cases. The daily test positivity rate came down to 8.89 per cent. At the same time, as part of controlling and managing the pandemic better, Kerala is likely to revise its intervention programmes at market places. Accordingly, a sub-committee is to be formed at each market to facilitate and monitor the implementation of Covid-appropriate behaviour as recommended in the SOP issued by the Centre.
• Tamil Nadu: Southern districts of Tamil Nadu witness less rains than expected due to Cyclone Burevi. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami says the new farm laws will not affect Tamil Nadu farmers but protect them from loss. Following a review meeting with officials at Circuit House in Hasthampatti, CM told reporters: ‘Oversupply of an agricultural produce will reduce its market price. The new laws ensure a pre-agreed price for the produce’.
• Karnataka: No night curfew for Christmas and New Year, hint Karnataka ministers; Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar concurred that curfew may not be necessary, but questioned the need for any celebrations. Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said the State Government is looking at options other than imposing a ‘night curfew’ ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations. A number of nutritionists, doctors and activists wrote letter to CM to restart Ksheera Bhagya, giving milk to all government and added schools.
• Andhra Pradesh: Navy Day manoeuvers are held annually at Visakhapatnam by Eastern Naval Command and its Fleet. But this year no manoeuvers were held in the wake of the covid regulations. Member of Legislative Council and TDP Gannavaram Assembly constituency in-charge BatchulaArjunudu has tested positive for coronavirus for the second time and was shifted to Hyderabad for treatment.
• Telangana: 631 new cases, 802 recoveries & 2 deaths reported in the last 24 hours; Total cases: 2,72,123; Active cases: 8,826; Deaths: 1467; Discharges: 2,61,830 with a recovery rate of 96.21 per cent, while the countrywide recovery rate is 94.2 per cent.

FACT CHECK

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