Covid LIVE: Maharashtra posts biggest single-day spike of 31,885 new cases

Coronavirus live updates: Centre has decided to open up vaccination drive for all above 45 yrs of age from April 1. Stay tuned for corona-related news

7:15 PM

Nagpur reports highest daily growth of 3,717 Covid-19 cases

Nagpur district in Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 3,717 new coronavirus cases, its highest single-day figure so far since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, the authorities said. This rise took the overall number of cases to 2,03,488, the district information office said in a release.

 

The death toll in the district grew to 4,737 as the virus claimed 40 lives during the day. So far, 1,65,179 patients have recovered from the infection, of whom, 2,098 were discharged on Wednesday. The number of active COVID-19 cases in the district is 33,572. A total of 17,155 samples were tested on Wednesday, while the total test count has reached 15,25,119, it said.

6:30 PM

88% of all Covid-19 deaths in India in age group of 45 years and above: Govt

About 88 per cent of all COVID-19 deaths in the country are in the age group of 45 years and above, making them the most vulnerable section that needs to be protected, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

 

Addressing a press conference, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the case fatality rate in this age group is 2.85 per cent.

 

"About 88 per cent of all COVID-19 deaths in the country are taking place in the age group of 45 years and above, making them the most vulnerable group that needs to be protected," he said, adding that this is the reason behind allowing vaccination for those above 45 years from April 1.

6:24 PM

Former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat, four members of family test positive for coronavirus infection

Former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat and four members of his family test positive for coronavirus infection

6:03 PM

Haryana bans public celebrations on Holi as Covid-19 cases rise

The Haryana government on Wednesday banned public celebrations of upcoming Holi festival in the wake of the rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the recent weeks.

 

During the past few days, Haryana has been reporting over 800 new cases daily.

5:43 PM

Telangana, Chandigarh, Nagaland and Punjab have low Covid-19 vaccination coverage of healthcare workers

Telangana, Chandigarh, Nagaland and Punjab have low Covid-19 vaccination coverage of healthcare workers: Union Health Ministry

5:16 PM

771 cases of coronavirus variants detected across 18 states in India: Govt

5:05 PM

Recent surge in Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra and Punjab is of grave concern: Health Ministry

Recent surge in Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra and Punjab is of grave concern: Union Health Ministry

5:03 PM

Rise in active Covid-19 cases continues after touching its lowest mark in mid-Feb

5:02 PM

About 88% of all Covid-19 deaths in India in age group of 45 years and above: Health Ministry

About 88 per cent of all Covid-19 deaths in India in age group of 45 years and above: Union Health Ministry

4:54 PM

Maharashtra and Punjab reporting rise in Covid-19 cases: Health Ministry

4:53 PM

Interval between two doses of COVISHIELD increased to 4-8 weeks: Health Ministry

4:21 PM

Maharashtra, Punjab, three other states witnessing surge in Covid-19 cases: Centre

Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat are reporting a surge in daily COVID-19 cases and the five states together account for 77.44 per cent of the new infections, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

 

A total 47,262 new cases were registered in a span of 24 hours.

 

Six states cumulatively account for 81.65 per cent of the new cases. Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 28,699. It is followed by Punjab with 2,254 and Karnataka with 2,010 cases.

4:14 PM

Centre asks states to restrict public observance of festivals, limit or stop gatherings

Amid a spike in COVID-19 infections in some parts of the country, the Centre on Wednesday asked states and union territories to consider imposing local restrictions in public observance of the upcoming festivals and limit or do away with mass gatherings for effective control of the pandemic.

 

Additional Secretary in the Health Ministry Arti Ahuja, in a letter to state chief secretaries and union territory administrators, stated that the battle against COVID-19 is at a critical juncture with rising number of cases and deaths being reported from many parts in the recent past.

 

"...in view of upcoming festivals such as Holi, Shab-e-Barat, Bihu, Easter and Eid-ul-Fitr, etc., it is strongly advised that states may consider imposing local restrictions in public observance of these festivals and limit/do away with mass gatherings in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 22 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005," the letter read.

3:35 PM

A year of online classes, exams: Covid-19 prompts shift to 'new normal' in teaching and learning

A year of learning in 'smartphone class rooms' and appearing for 'WhatsApp exams', virtual campus tours to Zoom placement drives and ultimately massive increase in 'screen time', the last academic session will go down in history as beginning of the "new normal" prompted by coronavirus-induced lockdown.

 

No packing up of bags for first day at school, cancelled sports day or farewells, no shared lunches and massively increased screen time, marked the 2020-21 academic session, which was about to begin just a week after the COVID-19 lockdown was announced last year.

 

Smartphones and laptops, which were not allowed in classes and meant for restricted usage at home as well, became the backbone of education throughout the year as COVID-19 pandemic prompted a 360 degree shift from classroom teaching to the online space, including YouTube lectures, Zoom classes, WhatsApp exams and online quizzes.

2:32 PM

Negative Covid-19 report must for travelling to Gujarat from Maharashtra

The Gujarat government has made it mandatory to people coming from neighboring Maharashtra to carry a negative RT-PCR test report not older than 72 hours.

 

This decision has been taken in view of a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, it said.

 

In an order issued on Tuesday, the state health department observed that contact tracing of COVID-19 cases found in Gujarat over the last one week revealed that a large number of the infected people had returned from Maharashtra.