Coronavirus live updates: Oxford Covid vaccine 'safe and well-tolerated' in older age groups

The number of Covid-19 deaths in the United States crossed 250,000 on Wednesday, according to a Reuters tally, as a third coronavirus wave brings a fresh surge in infections and puts.

The number of reported global daily virus deaths stood at 10,816 on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally, the highest single-day death count. The previous record of global daily deaths was 10,733, registered on November 4. The virus toll in the US approached 250,000 on Wednesday, the day after the country recorded the highest number of victims in nearly four months. On Tuesday, the pandemic claimed 1,596 lives in the US, more than on any single day since July 27, contributing to a total of 2,48,898 virus deaths.

Daily cases breached the 40,000 mark on Wednesday after remaining below that level for three consecutive days. India also reported 581 deaths, which was 104 more than Tuesday’s fatalities. Delhi was leading the list with 131 deaths followed by Maharashtra at 100.

The Indian Council of Medical Research has reiterated its position against indiscriminate use of convalescent plasma therapy (CPT) in treatment of Covid-19 patients even as the health ministry is working to issue a standard protocol for plasma therapy and plasma administration. It said no benefits of CPT could be established during randomised trials to check efficacy and safety. The advisory embraces the principle that a potential donor of convalescent plasma should have sufficient concentration of antibodies working against Covid-19 infection.

Over a period of two months - from September 16 to November 15 - India has been doing more tests for Covid-19 on an average per day than countries like Russia, France, UK and US, the government has said, pointing to the increased efforts at testing. However, India - with its huge population - has conducted 91,359 tests per million population-the lowest among these countries.

Community volunteers who reached out to 300 habitations in 12 districts across seven states in August- September found children engaged as paid worker or pushed into child labour, the situation being similar in both rural and urban areas. The seven states where the assessment was done are Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra.

The efficacy of the vaccine, which could start being distributed in December, was found to be consistent across different ages and ethnicities - a promising sign given the disease has disproportionately affected the elderly and certain groups including Black people. Pfizer said 170 volunteers in its trial involving over 43,000 people contracted COVID-19 but 162 of them had only been given a placebo, meaning the vaccine was 95% effective. Of the 10 people who had severe COVID-19, one had received the vaccine.

Total cases in the state rise to 1,06,742, including 1,03,171 recoveries/discharges and 934 deaths. Active cases stand at 2,637.

Total cases in the state rise to 31,401, including 6,901 active cases, 24,002 recoveries and 468 deaths.

Total cases are 4,41,885, active cases stand at 26,296, death toll is 7,820 and total discharges 4,07,769.