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

2:14 PM

A new 'double mutant' variant of Covid found in India: Health Ministry

Genome sequencing by INSACOG showed coronavirus variants of concern and a novel variant in India, said government on Wednesday.

The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG) is a grouping of 10 national laboratories that was established by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India on December 25, 2020. INSACOG has since then been carrying out genomic sequencing and analysis of circulating Covid-19 viruses, and correlating epidemiological trends with genomic variants. "Genomic variants of various viruses are a natural phenomenon and are found in almost all countries," said Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in a statement. READ MORE...

1:58 PM

Delhi govt orders all DMs to ensure strict adherence of Covid-19 norms

Amid the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the national capital, the Delhi government has ordered District Magistrates (DMs) to strict enforcement of COVID-appropriate behaviour in the city, especially in crowded places.

 

In its latest order, the Delhi government has termed weekly markets, cinema halls, malls, metros, and religious places and other such areas as 'Super Spreaders'.

 

"There has been a steady increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the last 15 days, but people are not following the COVID-19 norms," the government said in its order.

12:59 PM

Coronavirus LIVE updates: Actor Aamir Khan tests positive for Covid-19

Coronavirus LIVE updates: Actor Aamir Khan tests positive for Covid-19

12:29 PM

Pune Covid-19 wrap: 5,741 new cases; the second highest so far

After a day’s drop, the daily count of coronavirus cases in Pune showed a big jump on Tuesday, with 5,741 new infections getting detected. This is the second highest number of new cases ever detected in Pune during the pandemic. The highest-ever count remains the 5,939 cases that were reported on September 10 last year.

 

The jump came despite a relative decline in the testing numbers on Tuesday. Compared to 21,616 samples a day earlier, only 19,796 samples were tested. Yet, while 4,345 positive cases were detected on Monday, the Tuesday count jumped to 5,741. Of these, 3,145 cases were reported from the Pune Municipal Corporation areas, while Pimpri Chinchwad contributed 1,488. The remaining 1,108 cases came from cantonment and rural areas.

12:14 PM

Holi celebrations banned in Mumbai amid spike in Covid-19 cases

mid an alarming surge in Covid-19 cases in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on March 23 announced that Holi celebrations will not be permitted in both private and public places.

 

The circular, issued by BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, said that considering the surge in cases and in view to avoid any crowding in the city, 'Holi Dahan' or the burning of Holi fire on March 28 and 'Rangpanchmi' celebrations on March 29 will not be allowed.

11:52 AM

India’s total vaccination coverage has surpassed 5 crore doses

India’s total vaccination coverage has surpassed 5 crore doses

 

11:50 AM

One year since Covid-19 lockdown: India still recovering from unemployment blow

India is still not out of the woods as far as unemployment is concerned after a year when the lockdown was imposed to contain the spread of deadly COVID-19 on March 25 last year as pandemic-induced job loss has not tapered off consistently.

 

The government had imposed a lockdown to curb the spread of the pandemic but this impacted economic and commercial activities and resulted in job loss and later on the exodus of migrant workers which rocked the entire nation.

 

According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) data, the unemployment rate was recorded at 6.9 per cent in February 2021 which is slightly better than 7.8 per cent in the same month last year and 8.8 per cent in March 2020, during which lockdown was imposed.

 

11:16 AM

Global Covid-19 caseload tops 124 million: Johns Hopkins University

The overall number of global Covid-19 cases has surpassed 124 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 2.73 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

 

In its latest update on Wednesday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 124,124,997 and 2,733,380, respectively.

 

The US is the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 29,920,561 and 543,793, respectively, according to the CSSE. Read on...

10:22 AM

Indore: 24-hr Covid control room monitors home isolated patients

 

As Covid-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh's Indore have been rising, the health department of the district is helping positive patients under home isolation through a control room.

 

"The district control room of Covid-19 in Indore helps the patients who are in home isolation through audio or video calls. The control room runs 24 hours. This control room also helps us to monitor their health status," the Nodal officer of the control room Dr Anil Dongre told ANI.

 

"The patients contact us through helpline number - 1075 and through 'Sarthak' app. In case of an emergency, the rapid response team visits the patient's home for treatment," Dongre said.

9:51 AM

Coronavirus in India: Latest update by MoHFW

Active cases: 368,457 (Net increase: 23,080)

Deaths: 160,441 (Net increase: 275)

Cured: 11,205,160 (Net increase: 23,907)

Total cases: 11,734,058 (Net increase: 47,262)

Total vaccination: 48,494,594 (Increase over previous day: 3,253,095)

9:23 AM

Maharashtra coronavirus update: Thane district sees 2,538 new Covid-19 cases, 11 deaths

With the addition of 2,538 fresh coronavirus positive cases, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra mounted to 2,93,154 while the toll rose to 6,403 with the death of 11 patients, an official said on Wednesday.

 

These new cases were reported on Tuesday, he said.

 

The recovery rate in the district stood at 91.73 per cent with 2,68,918 patients recovering from Covid-19 disease so far, he said, adding the district is now left with 17,833 active cases.

8:56 AM

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches 'Mera Mask Meri Suraksha' campaign

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched 'Mera Mask Meri Suraksha', a campaign aimed at raising awareness about Covid-19 in Bhopal yesterday. He drew circles in front of shops to ensure social distancing in markets.

 

"I appeal to everyone to wear face masks," he said.

8:53 AM

Hong Kong suspends Pfizer vaccines over packaging defects

Hong Kong suspended vaccinations using Pfizer shots — known as BioNTech shots in the city — on Wednesday after they were informed by its distributor Fosun that one batch had defective bottle lids. The suspension was immediate while Chinese pharmaceutical firm Fosun Pharma and BioNTech, the German company which created the vaccine with American pharmaceutical firm Pfizer, investigate the matter, according to a statement by the Hong Kong government. BioNTech and Fosun Pharma have not found any reason to believe the product is unsafe, according to the statement. However, vaccinations will be halted as a preventive and safety measure.

8:52 AM

Gujarat makes -ve RT-PCR report must for Maharashtra travellers

Gujarat makes -ve RT-PCR report must for Maharashtra travellers

8:44 AM

Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde tests Covid positive for second time

Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde on Tuesday informed that he has again tested positive for COVID-19. The NCP leader had detected positive for the virus last year in June as well.

 

"Today is the second time I have tested positive for corona. I request everyone who has come in contact with me in the last few days to get tested. There is nothing to worry about. Everyone should wear a mask, follow social distancing and take care of themselves," Dhananjay Munde tweeted in Marathi.