Coronavirus India LIVE Updates: India Records 22,890 New Cases, Tally Rises To 99.79 Lakh

Coronavirus Cases India: Up to 338 more deaths were reported in this time. (Representational)

India recorded 22,890 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total caseload to over 99.79 lakh. The number of fresh infections is 4.6 per cent down since Thursday.

Up to 338 more deaths were reported in this time, taking total fatality to 1,44,789. Over 31,087 recovered since yesterday, taking the overall figure to 95,20,827.

COVID-19 cases in India are steadily coming down while the caseload of infection in many parts of the world is experiencing a second or even a third peak, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it is "rapidly" working towards granting emergency approval of Moderna Inc's COVID-19 vaccine candidate. A week ago, the same panel backed a vaccine from Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech SE, leading to an FDA emergency use authorization (EUA) a day later.

Here are the LIVE Updates on coronavirus (COVID-19) cases:

Dec 18, 2020 11:06 (IST)

Coronavirus Latest News: 29 New COVID-19 Cases Push Arunachal Pradesh's Tally To 16,603

Arunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 tally rose to 16,603 as 29 more people, including four security personnel, tested positive for the infection, PTI reported quoting health department official on Friday.

Twelve people were cured of the disease on Thursday, taking the total number of recoveries in the state to 16,290. The recovery rate among coronavirus patients in the state currently stands at 98.11 per cent.

Arunachal Pradesh now has 258 active COVID-19 cases while 55 patients died due to the infection so far, the official said.

Dec 18, 2020 10:22 (IST)

COVID-19 Live News: India's Total Cases Rise To 99,79,447 With 22,889 New Infections

With 22,889 new #COVID19 infections, India's total cases rise to 99,79,447

With 338 new deaths, toll mounts to 1,44,789. Total active cases at 3,13,831

Total discharged cases at 95,20,827 with 31,087 new discharges in the last 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/A6nPN8ofhH
- ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2020

Dec 18, 2020 08:57 (IST)

Coronavirus Latest Updates: COVID-19 Virus Can Cause Blood-Brain Barrier, Says New Study

A new study by University of Washington Health Sciences strongly claims that COVID-19 virus can show cognitive effects to the patients such as brain fog and fatigue, ANI reported.

The study published in Nature Neuroscience shows that the SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, can enter the brain. Researchers, through a mouse model, found that the spike protein, often depicted as the red arms of the virus, can cross the blood-brain barrier in mice.

The spike protein often called the S1 protein, dictates where the virus can enter. Usually, the virus does the same thing as its binding protein, said lead author William A. Banks, a professor of medicine at the University Of Washington School Of Medicine and a Puget Sound Veterans Affairs Healthcare System physician and researcher.

Dec 18, 2020 07:49 (IST)

COVID-19 Updates: Mizoram Reports 9 New Cases In The Last 24 Hours

Mizoram reported 9 new #COVID19 cases in the last 24 hours, as per the state govt.

Total cases: 4,094

Active cases: 164

Discharges: 3,923

Deaths: 7 pic.twitter.com/F4E4fixS7O
- ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2020

Dec 18, 2020 07:05 (IST)

California hits new daily record with 53,711 new COVID cases

California reported 53,711 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, a record for the most populous US state.

The state also reported 293 new deaths on Wednesday, bringing its deaths to 21,481.

The California Department of Public Health said the new surge was in part due to a newly implemented auto-processing feature that put more than 15,000 cases of prior days in the latest report.

"Today''s case count includes 38,374 newly reported cases that are part of the continued statewide surge. The remaining 15,337 cases are from previous days," said the department

Dec 18, 2020 06:44 (IST)

Northern Ireland faces six-week virus lockdown after Christmas

Northern Ireland will impose a six-week lockdown after Christmas as rising coronavirus case rates strain the British province's public health system, the devolved government announced Thursday.

The new restrictions, which begin on December 26, include an initial week of even tougher rules banning sports events and requiring retailers to close by 8:00 pm, deputy first minister Michelle O'Neill said. "The situation in terms of Covid is quite dire," O'Neill told reporters after the Northern Irish Executive met to agree the new measures.

Dec 18, 2020 06:13 (IST)

Joe Biden Aide Cedric Richmond Tests Positive For Coronavirus: Transition Team

US President-elect Joe Biden's incoming White House senior advisor, congressman Cedric Richmond, has tested positive for Covid-19 after having open-air "interactions" with Biden, the transition team said Thursday.

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