Coronavirus LIVE: At 36,902 cases, Maharashtra sees highest one-day spike

Coronavirus live updates: India has registered 59,118 fresh cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, the highest daily count since October 18, 2020

3:47 AM

France reports 41,869 new coronavirus cases

France reported 41,869 new coronavirus cases on Friday, against 45,641 on Thursday and 35,088 a week ago.
 

The number of people in intensive care units with Covid-19 rose by 57 to a 2021 high of 4,766, health ministry data showed.

3:46 AM

Over 800 people fined for not wearing face masks: Police

The Delhi police on Friday fined over 800 people for not wearing face masks at public places amid the rising coronavirus cases in the national capital.
 

Officials said the police have been asked by the Lieutenant Governor to intensify the drive against violations of Covid norms.
 

A police official said 813 challans were issued to people for not wearing face masks while five people were fined for not adhering to the social distancing norm.

A total of 5,70,693 challans have been issued in the national capital since June 15 for violations of anti-Covid guidelines by people, they said.
 

The Delhi police also distributed 121 face masks in the city on Friday.
 

The police have distributed 4,26,941 masks since June 15. 
 

3:46 AM

WHO asking rich countries to donate 10 million vaccines

The head of the World Health Organization is asking rich countries to donate at least 10 million coronavirus vaccines so the UN health agency can reach its goal of vaccination in all countries within the first 100 days of 2021.
 

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says supply problems faced by the UN-backed effort COVAX, which aims to provide vaccines to all countries, means that about 20 countries are still awaiting their first doses of vaccines from the program.
 

Tedros says he's also asking manufacturers to scale up their production so extra vaccines could be donated to poorer countries.
 

He slammed the numerous private deals countries have struck with pharmaceuticals that have meant fewer vaccines for developing countries and warned COVAX would need many more hundreds of millions of vaccines in the coming months.
 

On Thursday, WHO's COVAX partner Gavi, announced supply problems meant it would have to delay the delivery of about 90 million vaccines until about May.
 

3:45 AM

Actor Paresh Rawal tests positive for Covid-19

Veteran actor Paresh Rawal on Friday said that he has tested positive for coronavirus.
 

The 65-year-old actor, who had recently received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, shared the news in a post on Twitter, requesting those who came in contact with him to also get tested.  "Unfortunately, I have tested positive for Covid-19. All those that have come in contact with me in the last 10 days are requested to please get themselves tested," he wrote on Twitter.
 

Rawal had received the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine on May 9. He had posted picture of himself flashing the victory sign at a vaccine centre.
 

Several collegaues of Rawal from the industry, including actors Anupam Kher, Ranvir Shorey and filmmaker Rahul Dholakia, wished the actor a speedy recovery.

"Get well soon my friend @SirPareshRawal . Love and prayers always!" Kher said.
 

Shorey tweeted, "Wish you a speedy recovery, Sir!" In recent days, several other Bollywood celebrities, including R Madhavan, Aamir Khan, Kartik Aaryan, Manoj Bajpayee and Satish Kaushik, contracted the virus.
 

Mumbai on Friday reported 5,513 Covid-19 cases, taking the caseload in the country's financial capital is 3,85,628. The death toll reached 11,629.
 

10:00 PM

Third day in a row, Mumbai sees record spike, adds 5,513 cases

Mumbai on Friday reported 5,513 Covid-19 cases, the third consecutive day when the addition has been the highest since the outbreak began in March last year, a BMC official said.
 

On Thursday the count was 5,504, while it was 5,185 on Wednesday, both of which remained outbreak records for the metropolis at the time.
 

The caseload in the country's financial capital is 3,85,628, including 11,629 deaths, nine of which took place during the day, the civic official added.
 

He said Dharavi, among the densest urban settlements in the world, accounted for 58 of the cases reported in the city during the day.
 

He said the BMC had carried out contact tracing of 24,550 people, and performed 47,504 tests during the day.
 

9:33 PM

36,902 new coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, a new high; 112 deaths

Maharashtra recorded 36,902 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, the highest one-day rise since the pandemic began.

 

State capital Mumbai also witnessed a record rise of 5,515 cases during the day, health officials said.

 

The caseload in the state rose to 26,37,735, taking its positivity rate to 13. 86 per cent. With 112 fatalities reported on Friday, the death toll reached 53,907.

 

Looking at the alarming rise in cases, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray earlier in the day ordered night curfew in the entire state from Sunday (March 28) onwards.

 

Mumbai reported 5,515 new cases, its highest daily rise till now, while the nearby Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation reported 1,020 cases, its highest rise so far.

 

Pune city and neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad reported 3,679 and 1,782 new cases, respectively. As many as 1,686 cases were reported in other areas of the Pune district.

 

9:15 PM

Mumbai reports 5,513 new Covid-19 cases

8:50 PM

One new case takes Nagaland's Covid-19 tally to 12,229

Nagaland's Covid-19 tally rose to 12,229 on Friday as one more person tested positive for the infection, Health Minister S Pangnyu Phom said.

 

The fresh case was reported in Dimapur, he said.

 

Nagaland now has five active cases, while 11,979 people have recovered from the disease, 91 patients have succumbed to the infection and 154 have migrated to other states to date, Health Director Dr Denis Hangsing said.

8:34 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Germany lists France as 'high risk' Covid area

Coronavirus LIVE: Germany lists France as 'high risk' Covid area

8:31 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Punjab reports 3,176 fresh Covid-19 cases

Punjab reports 3,176 fresh Covid-19 cases, 1,816 discharges, and 59 deaths, according to the state health department.

8:22 PM

EU medicines agency backs Pfizer Covid vaccine storage at regular freezer temperature for two weeks

EU medicines agency backs Pfizer Covid vaccine storage at regular freezer temperature, instead of ultra-cold storage, for up to two weeks, according to an AFP report.

8:20 PM

More than 50 people will not be allowed to gather for Holi celebrations: Uttarakhand Secy

In wake of the Covid situation in the state, more than 50 people will not be allowed to gather for Holi celebrations: Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Om Prakash

8:10 PM

2,566 new Covid-19 cases in Karnataka, 13 deaths

Karnataka logged 2,566 new Covid-19 cases and 13 related fatalities, taking the caseload to 9.81 lakh and the toll to 12,484, the Health department said on Friday.

 

This is the fourth consecutive day that the state has reported over 2,000 fresh cases. On Thursday, it registered 2,523.

 

Bengaluru Urban continued to top the list of cases, with 1,490 infections

7:49 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra CM announces night curfew from Sunday night

In view of the increasing number of corona patients in the state, CM has instructed to impose a curfew in the state from Sunday night to avoid congestion, implement some strict measures to curb growing infection and implement it effectively: CM's Secretariat

7:45 PM

Rishikesh hotel closed for 48 hours after 16 employees test Covid positive

A leading hotel in Rishikesh has been closed for 48 hours as a precautionary measure after 16 of its employees tested positive for Covid-19 in a day, an official said on Friday.

 

Sixteen employees of Taj Rishikesh Resort and Spa tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, Narendra Nagar SDM Yukta Mishra said