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

10:36 AM

People in Nashik to pay Rs 5 for hour-long market visit amid spike in Covid

In a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19 second wave by ensuring decongestion in market places, the Nashik administration is issuing a Rs five ticket per person to enter the market area for an hour.

 

"We are using a different approach to contain COVID-19 spread in Nashik. We are issuing a ticket of Rs 5 per person to enter a market area for an hour. It's an attempt to save the city from entering lockdown," said Deepak Pandey, Commissioner of Police, Nashik City on Tuesday.

 

On March 30, Maharashtra registered 27,918 new COVID-19 cases and 139 deaths. Read on...

10:31 AM

What is a vaccine passport and will we need it soon? Simply explained

Last month, Israel became the first nation to have allowed the vaccine passport system. Countries like Denmark, Japan, China, and the EU state members are also adopting similar measures. The concept has been considered crucial for the gradual re-opening of overseas travel, and business that demands close contact.

But what’s a vaccine passport? Do we need it any time soon? Click here to listen to the podcast

9:39 AM

Coronavirus update: Situation turning from bad to worse, says govt

The Centre on Tuesday said the Covid-19 situation is turning from "bad to worse" and is a huge cause for worry, especially for some states, warning that the whole country is at risk and any complacency at this stage, and at any level, will have "heavy costs".

 

Asserting that hospitals and the ICUs have to be readied, the Centre also cautioned that if the coronavirus cases increase rapidly, the healthcare system in the country would be "overwhelmed".

 

The Centre simultaneously asked all states and union territories to adopt a district-centric approach to fight the upward swing in cases. Each district, irrespective of whether it is seeing a surge or is with low burden, should formulate an action plan with clear timelines and responsibilities, it said.

9:24 AM

Maharashtra coronavirus update: We're using different approach to contain Covid-19 spread, says Nashik police

We are issuing a ticket of Rs 5 per person to enter market area for an hour. It's an attempt to save the city from entering lockdown: Deepak Pandey, Commissioner of Police, Nashik City

9:22 AM

Italy PM Mario Draghi receives AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine jab

Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi received his first dose of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday -- the same product that his government had decided to temporarily halt the use of earlier this month.

 

Draghi and his wife Maria Serenella Cappello, both 73, received the vaccine at a centre in Termini, Rome's main train station, Xinhua news agency reported.

 

The AstraZeneca is one of the three approved vaccines for use in Italy, together with those produced by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. Of the three, AstraZeneca's has been the most controversial after reports of it causing blood clots that resulted in two deaths in Italy. After the second death, the use of the vaccine was suspended for four days ending March 19. Read on...

8:46 AM

March 31-April 9 coronavirus lockdown in Maharashtra's Aurangabad cancelled

The lockdown which was to be imposed in Aurangabad from Tuesday night has now been cancelled.Collector Sunil Chauhan told reporters that the lockdown which was to be imposed from March 31 till April 9 has been cancelled."We have discussed with NGOs, other organizations and political associations, it was also discussed with the government and the lockdown which was scheduled from 12

 

Maharashtra registered 27,918 new COVID-19 cases and 139 deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the state health department on Tuesday. Read on...

8:45 AM

ICU beds for Covid-19 being increased in hospitals: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that the number of normal and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds for Covid patients have been increased in city hospitals, amid reports that some private hospitals were facing a shortage of ICU beds in view of the rising cases.

 

In a tweet, he said that in view of the Covid situation developing in the city, the number of normal and ICU beds reserved for Covid patients "is being increased in a few hospitals" and this will "improve bed availability".

 

Kejriwal said that his government was keeping a close watch on the situation and would take all steps necessary. Assuring people that "there is nothing to worry", he, however, asked to take all precautions.

 

8:23 AM

Turkey reports 37,303 coronavirus cases, its record single-day infections

Turkey reported 37,303 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, breaking its record of single-day infections since the outbreak of the pandemic, according to its health ministry.

 

Among the new cases are 1,376 symptomatic patients, and the total number in the country has reached 3,277,880.

 

The death toll from the virus in Turkey rose by 155 to 31,385, while the total recoveries climbed to 2,995,033 after 19,925 more recovered in the last 24 hours.

 

The rate of pneumonia in COVID-19 patients stands at 3.6 percent and the number of seriously ill patients is 2,054 in the country, said the ministry. Read on...

7:37 AM

14 countries raise concerns over WHO-China joint report on Covid-19 origin

A group of 14 countries including the United States and Japan has raised concerns over a report on the origins of COVID-19 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and China, arguing that the WHO team was "significantly delayed and lacked access to complete, original data and samples."

 

The WHO released a long-awaited joint report on the origins of COVID-19 on Tuesday. The report pointed to the transmission from bats to another animal and subsequently to humans as the most likely way the pandemic began. Read on...

7:18 AM

Night curfew to continue in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat till April 15

The night curfew will continue in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot till April 15.

 

According to the Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Gujarat government, the night curfew in four metros of the state, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot, which is currently in force from 9 pm to 6 am, will also continue till April 15, 2021.

 

Considering the prevalence of coronavirus spread, the State Government has decided to keep the COVID-19 Transition Control Guidelines of the Central Government unchanged till April 30, as per the Additional Chief Secretary. Read on...