Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra government extends restrictions till April 15

Coronavirus live updates: Mumbai surpassed it's record with 5,513 new infections and Pune reported 7,090 cases in the last 24 hours. Stay tuned for corona-related news

Coronavirus live updates: India saw a huge spike of 62,258 fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, according to MoHFW, taking the country's tally to 11,908,910 total infections. With active cases soaring to 452,647, India is now the 6th-worst hit country. The death toll from the deadly infection jumped to 161,275. Coronavirus cases in the country are rising at a rate not seen since May last year, indicating that India’s second wave may be worse than the first wave despite the ongoing vaccination drive. Meanwhile, Delhi on Friday recorded another single-day spike in its daily coronavirus disease (Covid-19) tally with 1,534 fresh cases. Maharashtra recorded 26,902 cases. Mumbai surpassed its record with 5,513 new infections and Pune reported 7,090 cases in the last 24 hours.

The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (2,600,833), Kerala (1,111,897), Karnataka (978,478), Andhra Pradesh (895,879), and Tamil Nadu (873,219).

World coronavirus update: Coronavirus cases rise unabated across the globe with 126,672,902 infected by the deadly contagion. While 102,141,528 have recovered, 2,778,766 have died so far. The US remains the worst-hit country with 30,848,093, followed by Brazil, India, Russia and France. However, it terms of the total number of active cases, US tops the charts, followed by France, Brazil, Belgium, Italy and India.

8:49 PM

Maharashtra increases no-mask fine to Rs 500

In an attempt to contain the surge in COVID-19 cases, the Maharashtra government has increased the fine to Rs 500 from the existing Rs 200 on anyone found without a mask in public, according to ANI.

The state government has issued a notification ordering the fresh guidelines implemented from March 27.

"Any person found to be without masks shall be fined an amount of Rs 500. Any person found to be spitting in public places will be fined an amount of Rs 1000", informed Maharashtra Government.

8:12 PM

Maharashtra's Nagpur reports 3,688 new Covid-19 cases

Maharashtra's Nagpur district reported 3,688 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 2,14,850 in the district, as per Civil Surgeon on Saturday, according to ANI. 

 

The district reported 3,227 people recoveries from the disease in the said period. With this, the total number of recoveries in the district goes to 1,72,634 so far. However, the active number of COVID-19 cases stands at 37,343.

7:40 PM

Covid strikes at the heart of top institutes; IIM-A has 40 active cases

The new wave of coronavirus in Gujarat has hit two of the country's premier educational institutions with IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Gandhinagar reporting active cases in double digits, according to PTI.

 

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad currently has 40 active cases of coronavirus, while IIT-G has 25 active cases, official sources said.

7:12 PM

Two-day lockdown imposed in Indore on Holi due to rising Covid-19 cases

In view of the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh's Indore, the state government has imposed a two-day lockdown in the city on Holi, according to ANI.

 

The district administration of Indore has ordered a lockdown on March 28 and March 29 (Holi) after discussing the concerns with the Crisis Management department over rising Covid-19 cases in the city on Thursday night.

6:31 PM

Maharashtra government extends Covid-19 curbs till April 15

The Maharashtra Chief Minister's Office announced the move on Twitter. 

6:28 PM

Covid safety protocols maintained in polling stations; Assam voters happy

The fear of COVID looms large and Assam's voters stepped out of their homes with caution to exercise their franchise and they seemed satisfied with the facilities to check the spread of the virus in polling stations in the first of the three-phased election in 47 of the 126 assembly constituencies, according to PTI.

 

Besides, voters were happy with arrangements to take care of children while their mothers voted, and ferry people with disabilities to polling stations.

 

For 65-year old Amiya Gogoi of the Duliajan assembly constituency, not casting her vote due to the pandemic was not an option as she has sincerely voted in every election since she came to her marital home as a bride 45-years ago.

5:53 PM

Opposition's allegations over statistics of Covid-19 deaths are false, baseless: Karnataka Minister

Karnataka Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education Minister Dr. K. Sudhakar on Saturday said the allegations made by the leader of opposition Siddaramaiah regarding statistics about COVID-19 deaths is completely false and baseless, according to ANI.

 

"The allegations made by Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah on Twitter regarding statistics about COVID-19 deaths are completely false and baseless," said Sudhakar.

 

"The state government has no intention to hide any statistics nor is it necessary. It is also not possible to hide or fudge any data," he added.

5:25 PM

Exams will be conducted as per schedule with tight Covid containment measures: AP Education Minister

Andhra Pradesh Education Minister Audimulapu Suresh affirmed that the written examinations and practical exams will be conducted as per schedule amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, according to ANI.

Andhra Pradesh Education Minister held a video conference with Education department officials earlier today about the Covid situation in the state. Later he addressed the media.

4:37 PM

Andhra Pradesh reports 947 new COVID cases

3:26 PM

Delhi Health Minister denies possibility of lockdown

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday denied the possibility of lockdown in the city despite the surge in the Covid-19 cases as he said that lockdown is not a solution and we'll have to learn to live with it, according to IANS.

 

He said, "There is no possibility of lockdown. There has already been a lockdown and there was a logic behind it. At that time, no one knew how the virus spreads. It was then said that there is a 14-day cycle from being infected to ending the infection. Then the expert said that if all the activities are locked for 21 days, the virus will stop spreading. Even then the lockdown kept extending but despite this, the coronavirus spread did not stop. I think lockdown is not a solution."

2:40 PM

Covovax trials begin in India, hope to launch it by Sept 2021: Adar Poonawalla

Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla on Saturday said clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccineCovovax have begun in India and the company hopes to launch it by September this year, according to PTI.

 

In August 2020, American vaccine company Novavax, Inc had announced a licence agreement with SII for the development and commercialisation of NVX-CoV2373, its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, in low and middle-income countries and India.

2:39 PM

Russia reports 8,885 Covid-19 cases, 387 deaths in past 24 hours

Russia has registered 8,885 COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, down from 9,167 the day before, taking the tally to 4,510,744, the coronavirus response center said on Saturday, according to ANI.

2:00 PM

Govt to widen Covid-19 vaccination drive soon: Harsh Vardhan

Amid surge in coronavirus cases, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan said that the Central government is planning to widen the umbrella of vaccine beneficiaries soon to cover other sections of the population, according to IANS.

 

While addressing 'Reshape Tomorrow Summit' organised by The Economic Times on Friday, he also spoke about the vaccination drive currently underway, India's investment in the "Test, Track and Treat" strategy and Make in India vaccine.

1:37 PM

Two deaths, 495 new Covid-19 cases in Telangana

Telangana recorded 495 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the gross to 3.05 lakh, while the toll rose to 1,685 with two more fatalities.

 

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 142, followed by Medchal Malkajgiri and Rangareddy districts with 45 and 35 cases respectively, a state government bulletin said on Saturday providing details as of 8 PM on March 26.

 

The bulletin said 247 patients recovered from the infection on March 26.

1:00 PM

Karnataka govt inefficiency, corruption, lies reason behind surge in Covid-19 cases: Siddaramaiah

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah on Thursday alleged the state government's inefficiency, corruption and lies are the reasons for the rise in Covid-19 cases in the state.

 

"@BJP4Karnataka's inefficiency, corruption and lies are the reasons for the rise in #Covid19 cases in Karnataka. People of Karnataka are facing the crisis due to mistakes of the shameless @BJP4Karnataka government," he tweeted.

 

He further said that the Karnataka government has also lied about Covid-19 related deaths.