Coronavirus Live Updates: Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, India Today 22 December 2020

Several Indian-American physicians publicly take COVID-19 vaccine, encourage others to get it

Several Indian-American physicians, in the frontline of the fight against the pandemic, are publicly taking the coronavirus vaccine and encouraging others to get the shots, emphasising that the vaccine is the "only saving grace" and a "scientific blessing" that will help the world win the battle against COVID-19.

The US began administering vaccines a week ago and has approved jabs developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

"We all should take the vaccine. It is very effective and we are seeing good results. The vaccine is the only saving grace we have right now and we have to take it," former President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) Dr. Suresh Reddy told PTI.

Coronavirus in Mizoram: As per the state government's data, the total discharged cases in the state are 3,973, while the active cases in the state stand at 153. Moreover, seven persons have succumbed to the virus so far.

A total of 16,31,70,557 samples tested for COVID-19 up to December 21. Of these, 10,72,228 samples were tested yesterday - ICMR

Telangana Weather Updates: As the mercury is dropping each passing day, people warm up by burning dry grass and sit around to overcome the cold at Mucherla Nagaram on outskirts of Warangal on Tuesday.

Andhra Pradesh Live Updates: Koil alwar Tirumanjanam performed in Srivari Temple Tirumala

Coronavirus in Telangana Live Updates: Telangana reported 617 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the total caseload to over 2.82 lakh while three more fatalities pushed the toll to 1,518.

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 103, followed by Medchal Malkajgiri 52 and Rangareddy 51, a government bulletin said on Tuesday providing details as of 8 pm on December 21.

As many as6,569 patients are under treatment and45,227 samples were tested on Monday. Cumulatively, over 65.20 lakh samples have been tested. The samples tested per million population was nearly 1.75 lakh, the bulletin said.

Coronavirus In India Live Updates: Five out of 266 passengers and crew members of a flight, which arrived at Delhi airport from London last night, have tested positive for COVID-19. Their samples have been sent to NCDC for research and they have been sent to care centre: Nodal officer for COVID-19 (ANI)

Coronavirus in India: India records 19,556 new COVID-19 cases, 30,376 recoveries, and 301 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Health Ministry

Total cases: 1,00,75,116

Active cases: 2,92,518

Total recoveries: 96,36,487

Death toll: 1,46,111