Less than 50% of the targeted beneficiaries turned up for the coronavirus vaccination in Andhra Pradesh on the second day of the nationwide drive on Sunday. Despite the low turnout, Andhra still had the highest number of health workers getting vaccinated. According to the official data, 13,036 healthcare workers got vaccinated across AP, against the targeted 27,233 for the day.

Active coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh have dropped below 2,000 to 1,987 on Saturday, powered by 326 more recoveries. On adding the new recoveries, total recoveries crossed 8.76 lakh. In the past 24 hours, 114 new Covid infections have been reported in the state, increasing the state’s total tally to 8.85 lakh. With 25,542 more tests, the total Covid-19 tests conducted in Andhra Pradesh so far have crossed 1.25 crore.

Ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20, US President Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency in Washington DC. The order also authorises federal assistance to be extended through January 24 to support efforts in nation’s capital to respond to emergency conditions resulting from the inauguration. The declaration comes after Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol.

Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger compared the US Capitol riots to Nazi violence and said, “I…believe that we must be aware of the dire consequences of selfishness and cynicism.” Criticising Donald Trump, he said, “He’ll go down in history as the worst president ever. The good thing is that he soon will be as irrelevant as an old tweet.”

Andhra Pradesh registered 319 new coronavirus cases on Friday, taking the state’s tally to 8.84 lakh, even as 308 more patients recovered from the infection. Andhra Pradesh’s positivity rate fell to 7.24 per cent, which is still higher than the national average of 5.84 per cent. Meanwhile, one more fatality in the past 24 hours took the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 7,127.

A 30-year-old man, who worked as a watchman in a school in Hyderabad, was sentenced to 20 years in jail under (POCSO) Act, 2012 for sexually assaulting a student. The victim’s mother had reported the incident to the police in 2017. The watchman used to assault the victim during school hours at the school’s cellar parking, her mother had stated.

Addressing his supporters protesting the outcome of the US Presidential election in Washington, DC, President Donald Trump said, “We will never give up. We will never concede.” “You don’t concede when there’s theft involved,” Trump added, repeating his allegation of fraud in the election. The rally came as US Congress met to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the election.

Transport minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar’s personal secretary Kiran Kumar lodged a complaint with Punjagutta police alleging that unknown person has been calling him over the phone and using abusive language. Police said that Kiran Kumarhad been receiving abusive phone calls regarding his pending problems with the transport department. Police registered a case.

Tamil Nadu government has allowed 100% occupancy in cinema halls, theatres and multiplexes amid decrease in COVID-19 cases. Earlier, they were permitted to open with 50% of their seating capacity. “Further, in order to create awareness among the spectators, the precautionary measures for COVID-19 shall also be screened during the show time,” read an official notice.

Reacting to a self-defence video posted by a female Twitter user, actor-politician Kamal Haasan said, “Dignity and equipoise are important to your (women’s) protection.” He wrote, “Confidence can do more damage than pepper spray.” Several Twitter users criticised him, with one calling him a “male chauvinist”. Some users came to his support and argued his “intelligence is being misunderstood”.

Hyderabad Police has traced 135 missing or stolen mobile phones and returned them to their owners, according to ACP (Asifnagar) RG Siva Maruthi. “I had purchased [a]…phone for ₹38,000 in February [with] my savings. I lost my phone within 20 days on February 27…I fell into depression after someone stole it,” said Md Azeem, whose phone was recovered by police.

Cyberabad Police has said that most drunk drivers are “highly educated, employed persons”. “Persons who drive under the influence of alcohol are like ‘terrorists on roads’ to the extent that they may cause death of anyone indiscriminately,” the police statement further read. The spike in road accidents has led to large-scale checking in the area.

Telangana medical and health department has decided to conduct medical tests on 1,200 passengers who travelled to the state directly from the United Kingdom after December 9. Director of public health G. Srinivasa Rao said that the department is collecting the details to conduct tests on all of them. The officials are inquiring about their health condition. The department also stated that none of the UK returnees have tested positive so far.

For the first time in more than six months, the daily Covid-19 count in Greater Hyderabad has dropped below 100. GHMC reported 86 new cases during the last 24 hours, health officials said on Monday. Hyderabad witnessed an upsurge in the infections in early June and the daily count at one point had crossed 900. The cases, however, were on decline since September. Meanwhile, the state reported 316 new cases during the last 24 hours, ending 8 p.m. Sunday. The cumulative tally rose to 2,81,730.

Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan has said if his party “comes to power, Madurai will be made Tamil Nadu’s second capital”. “It was dream of Puratchi Thalaivar MGR to establish Madurai as second capital…We’ll take forward this dream,” he added. “Time has come for me to act, and the rule is ours and tomorrow is ours,” Haasan further said.