India added 18,088 coronavirus cases on Wednesday, placing its overall number at 1.03 crore cases, the Health Ministry's data showed. 

The number of fresh infections reported on Wednesday were 10 per cent higher than on Tuesday. In this period, India reported 264 deaths linked to the virus, taking the total number of fatalities to 1,50,114.

The COVID-19 vaccine can be rolled out within 10 days from the emergency use authorisation date, based on dry run feedback, the government said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled his visit to India, hours after he announced a fresh lockdown in the United Kingdom over the new strain of coronavirus that has affected thousands of people in the UK. 

Mr Johnson was to be the chief guest at this year's Republic Day parade in New Delhi, which was also to be his first bilateral visit after the UK's departure from the European Union in December. He had accepted the invitation last month.

Mr Johnson's government has announced a complete lockdown for England's 56 million people, which could last until mid-February.

The measures were taken amid a huge spurt in coronavirus cases which saw 80,000 fresh infections on one day in the end of December. If unchecked, the National Health Service will be overwhelmed, Mr Johnson had said while making the lockdown announcement, which came into effect on Monday night.

Source: NDTV

BDST: 1312 HRS, JAN 06, 2021
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