Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra sees nearly 40,000 new Covid cases in a day

Coronavirus live updates: India has recorded 53,480 cases recorded in the last 24 hours. With active cases hitting 552,566, India is now the 6th-worst hit country. Stay tuned for corona-related news

4:21 PM

Global study on Covid-19 origins finds lab origin 'extremely unlikely'

The WHO-China joint team on the global study of the origins of Covid-19 found that introduction through a laboratory incident is "extremely unlikely," a senior Chinese expert of the joint team said on Wednesday.

 

Experts from the World Health Organization and China jointly conducted the research in China and made an assessment of the likelihood of possible pathways, according to Liang Wannian, head of the Chinese side of the joint team, the Xinhua news agency reported.

 

According to a report on the China Part of the study, Covid-19 introduction through an intermediate host is "likely to very likely," introduction through cold/food chain products is "possible," and introduction through a laboratory incident is "extremely unlikely," Liang said.

3:58 PM

Centre holds review meet with states, UTs ahead of opening up Covid-19 vaccination to people above 45

As India prepares to open up its COVID-19 vaccination drive to people above 45 from April 1, the Centre on Wednesday asked states and union territories to identify low vaccine-coverage pockets, particularly in districts reporting a surge in new infections, and take corrective action.

National Health Authority (NHA) CEO and Empowered Group on COVID Vaccination chairperson Dr R S Sharma and Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan chaired a high-level meeting with health secretaries, mission directors of NHM and immunisation officers of all states and UTs during the day, a statement said.

The status and pace of the inoculation drive across the country were reviewed at the meeting held through video-conferencing, as were the preparations for April 2021, when vaccination would be extended to cover everybody above the age of 45, the ministry said.

3:39 PM

Maharashtra should be ready for stricter steps: Health Minister on Covid-19 surge

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said people should be ready for stringent measures in the coming days to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state. Talking to reporters, Tope said saving lives is the government's priority, the minister told reporters here.

 

Maharashtra has seen a huge rise in coronavirus positive cases over the last week. Struggling to arrest the fresh surge in COVID-19 cases, the state government last week announced a ban on all types of gatherings, including political and religious.

2:57 PM

Visitors from Nepal to be subjected to rapid antigen tests in Uttarakhand

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, the district administration has started rapid antigen tests of people coming from Nepal to India through the two main border bridges at Jhoolaghat and Dharchula besides other entry points.

 

"We have instructed medical teams at thetwointernational bridges not to allow any foreigner into Indian soil if they are found positive in the rapid antigen test," Pithoragarh Chief Medical Officer MC Pant said.

 

Besides the two international bridges, rapid antigen tests have also been started at Udiyari bend, Panar bridge and Aincholi village which are the other entry points for people from Nepal.

 

"We have sent all test reports to our laboratory. The results are expected in one or two days. Only after that the actual situation of corona cases amongst the persons entering into the district from Nepal will be known," Pithoragarh District Magistrate Anand Swaroop said.

2:44 PM

Nepal first in Asia-Pacific region to provide Covid jabs to refugees

Nepal has become the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to provide Covid-19 jabs to refugees through its national vaccination rollout.

 

According to the UN refugee agency in Kathmandu, Nepal started to inoculate the Covid vaccine to the Bhutanese refugees living in eastern part of the country from March 7.

 

The refugees at the settlement in the Jhapa district were vaccinated as part of the second phase of that rollout, which started on 7 March and targets people over the age of 65.

2:24 PM

Three deaths, 684 new coronavirus cases in Telangana in a day

Telangana saw 684 fresh coronavirus cases, the highest single day spike so far this year,pushing the aggregate to 3.07 lakh, while the toll rose to 1,697 with three more fatalities.

 

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 184, followed by Medchal Malkajgiri and Nizamabad districts with 61 and 48 cases respectively, a state government bulletin said on Wednesday providing details as of 8 PM on March 30.

 

The bulletin said 394 patients recovered from the infection on March 30.

2:13 PM

We're increasing testing, tracking and tracing in the State: Maharashtra Health Minister

2:01 PM

Former PM and JD(S) leader H D Devegowda and wife test positive for Covid-19

1:42 PM

Covid-19 LIVE: Five states account for over 79 per cent of active cases

Five states cumulatively account for over 79 per cent of the total COVID-19 active cases in the country with Maharashtra alone accounting for more than 61 per cent of the active caseload, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

 

Apart from Maharashtra, the four other states accounting for the majority of the active cases are Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab and Chhattisgarh.

 

Five states namely Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab and Chhattisgarh cumulatively account for 79.30% of the total active cases in the country. Maharashtra leads with more than 61% of the active caseload of the country, the ministry said in a statement.

1:30 PM

DATA STORY: India reports first 300+ daily Covid deaths since Dec 25, most in 104 days

India has so far vaccinated 63,054,353 people. That is 519.03 per cent of its total caseload, and 4.536 per cent of its population. Read more here

1:06 PM

127 new cases of coronavirus in Puducherry

Puducherry added 127 fresh cases of Covid-19 during the last 24 hours ending 10 am on Wednesday, pushing up the gross to 41,468.

 

The toll remained 682 as no death was reported.

 

The new cases were identified at the end of examination of 2,132 people, the Director of the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services S Mohan Kumar said.

12:40 PM

Random Covid tests of arriving passengers to start at Delhi airport today, reports NDTV

Delhi has started random Covid testing of passengers at the airport from today to check the spread of virus as the national capital sees a surge yet again. The move will be implemented next at bus stations and railway stations in the city.

12:21 PM

Pune coronavirus update: 6,282 new covid cases, 45 deaths

While Maharashtra showed a significant drop in its daily count of coronavirus cases on Tuesday, Pune seemed unaffected. The district reported 6,282 new cases on Tuesday, in line with the numbers it has been reporting for the last week.

12:17 PM

Uttarakhand: An area near Lakshman Chowk in Dehradun City declared containment zones

Uttarakhand: An area near Lakshman Chowk in Dehradun City declared containment zones

11:37 AM

Young people in Delhi most affected by current Covid spike: AIIMS' Guleria

A fresh wave of coronavirus cases in Delhi has "mainly affected" the young with most of the patients reporting “relatively milder symptoms”, AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria told Indian Express.

 

People should remain vigilant, as the infection can “spread to the elderly” and trigger “serious symptoms”. If so happens then the healthcare resources would come under strain yet again, he said..

 

Guleria told Indian Express that having more containment zones within a city would be a better strategy in containing the spread as some states mulled over imposing another lockdown. Read on...