Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra reports 25,681 new cases, 70 deaths in a day

Coronavirus live updates: Covid-19 cases rise unabated across the globe with 122,516,517 infected by the deadly contagion. Stay tuned for corona-related news

10:58 AM

India reports nearly 40,000 coronavirus cases, highest 1-day rise this year

India saw 39,726 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, the highest single day rise recorded so far this year, taking the nationwide COVID-19tally to 1,15,14,331,according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

 

Registering an increase for the ninth day in a row, the total active caseload has reached 2,71,282, which now comprises 2.36per cent of the total infections, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 96.26 per cent, the data stated. Read on...

10:36 AM

Oil Ministry recommends vaccinating front line workers against COVID-19 on priority

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has recommended vaccinating frontline workers in the oil sector on priority against the COVID-19 virus. According to officials in the know, the Oil Ministry has forwarded a request from oil companies and associations to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).  

 

Employees at petrol pumps, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG or cooking gas) dealerships, and oil and gas exploration companies were working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. The ministry said these frontline workers had braved the intense first wave of the pandemic and ensured uninterrupted fuel supplies to the country. They were also lauded as Corona Warriors and Union Ministers had recognised their efforts. But these oil sector frontline workers have not been included in the priority list for vaccinations till now. The vaccination drive has so far included medical personnel, frontline workers like police staff, patients with comorbidities above 45, and everyone above 60.

10:21 AM

Coronavirus update: India reports biggest single-day jump in Covid cases since Nov 29

India reports biggest single-day jump in Covid cases since Nov 29

10:21 AM

Coronavirus India update: Summary of March 19 data by MoHFW

Active cases: 271,282 (Net increase: 18,918)

Deaths: 159,370 (Net increase: 154)

Cured: 11,083,679 (Net increase: 20,654)

Total cases: 11,514,331 (Net increase: 39,726)

Total vaccination: 39,339,817 (Increase over previous day: 2,202,861)

10:13 AM

WHO Europe warns nations against premature easing of coronavirus curbs

Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Regional Director for Europe, has warned countries against premature easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

 

Kluge's warning on Thursday came as the region has been witnessing a rise in Covid-19 transmission rates, while its death toll was inching towards the 1 million mark, Xinhua news agency.

 

Addressing a virtual press conference here, Kluge noted that "while 27 countries are currently in a partial or full nationwide lockdown, 21 are gradually easing restrictive measures". Read on...

9:59 AM

Nearly 440,000 vaccinated against coronavirus so far in Jammu and Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday said nearly 4.40 lakh people have so far been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the Union Territory with no reported case of extreme adverse events.

 

This was conveyed by officials at a meeting of the Union Territory's steering committee, chaired by Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam, to review the progress of the COVID-19 vaccination drive.

 

"A total of 4,39,910 people have been vaccinated in Jammu and Kashmir with no reported case of extreme adverse events," Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Atal Dulloo said. Read on...

9:49 AM

Mumbai hospitals stare at bed crunch amid spike in Covid-19 cases

With Maharashtra seeing a steady spike in Covid-19 cases, private hospitals in the capital feel there could be a bed crunch if the momentum continues for a couple of weeks. Mumbai added 2,877 cases on Thursday. Of the 13,062 beds in dedicated Covid-19 hospitals (DCHs) and dedicated Covid healthcare centres (DCHCs), close to 6,000 are occupied.

 

While the civic body did not give a break-up, the occupancies are in hospitals primarily, said industry sources. Of the 1,537 ICUs, around 883 were occupied as of March 17 in Mumbai. Read on...

9:42 AM

Spain, Cyprus, Italy, France to resume use of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine

Spain, Cyprus, Italy and France will resume administering the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it was 'safe and effective.'

 

Spanish Health Minister Carolina Darias announced at a nationally televised news conference on Thursday that it will resume the administration of AstraZeneca vaccines from next Wednesday, CNN reported.

 

Darias said that health experts from Spain's 17 regional governments, which administer the vaccines against COVID-19, will meet this weekend to make a proposal on which parts of the population should get the AstraZeneca vaccine starting from next Wednesday. Read on...

9:19 AM

Mauritius to receive consignment of Indian-made coronavirus vaccine Covaxin

Mauritius will receive a consignment of Covaxin, India's indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine, on Friday, announced the High Commission of India in Port Louis on Thursday.

 

Taking to Twitter, the High Commission said that India stands strong with Mauritius in the tough times, describing it as 'a time-tested and enduring partnership'. Read on...

9:15 AM

Coronavirus update: Huge crowd seen at Dadar vegetable market, amid rising Covid-19 cases in the State

9:13 AM

No new Covid-19 cases reported in Mizoram in the last 24 hours

8:52 AM

US to meet goal of injecting 100 mn Covid-19 vaccines on Friday: Joe Biden

With the US closing in on President Joe Biden's goal of injecting 100 million coronavirus vaccinations weeks ahead of his target date, the White House announced on Thursday the nation is now in position to help supply neighbours Canada and Mexico with millions of lifesaving shots.

 

The Biden administration revealed the outlines of a plan to loan a limited number of vaccines to Canada and Mexico as the president announced the US is on the cusp of meeting his 100-day injection goal way ahead of schedule. Read on...

8:49 AM

Night curfew imposed in Amritsar as coronavirus cases surge in city

Amid surging COVID-19 cases, a night curfew has been imposed in Amritsar as a precautionary measure against the virus.

 

The city reported 230 fresh cases of COVID-19 on March 18.

 

"The Chief Minister has ordered a curfew in the city between 11 pm and 5 am," said Assistant Commissioner of Police (Central) Parvesh Chopra.

 

Ahead of Holi celebrations, shopkeepers in Amritsar said their businesses are adversely affected due to rising cases of COVID-19.

8:46 AM

Global Covid-19 caseload tops 121.7 million: Johns Hopkins University

The overall number of global Covid-19 cases has surpassed 121.7 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 2.68 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

 

In its latest update on Friday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 121,714,255 and 2,689,898, respectively.

 

The US is the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 29,664,869 and 539,659, respectively, according to the CSSE. Read on...

8:42 AM

Mumbai records 2,877 coronavirus cases, highest one-day rise since pandemic started

Mumbai on Thursday recorded its highest-ever one-day spike of 2,877 new coronavirus cases, which took the tally of cases in the city to 3,52,835.

 

With eight fatalities, the death toll due to the pandemic in the country's financial capital increased to 11,555.

 

On October 7, Mumbai had reported 2,848 new Covid-19 cases, highest since the first infection in the city came to light.

 

Also, this is the third time when single-day cases have surpassed the 2,800-mark.