Covid-19 LIVE: Over 68,500 new cases in Maharashtra, another record spike

Coronavirus live updates: Modi asks civil servants to press entire national capacity for vaccine production as daily cases and deaths rise. Stay tuned for news on Covid-19

2:17 PM

Indian Railways convertes its coaches into Covid-19 care coches

2:05 PM

Brokerages downgrade India's GDP growth projections for FY'22 amid resurgence of Covid cases

With the resurgence of COVID-19 cases posing risks to economic recovery, leading brokerages have downgraded India's GDP growth projections for the current fiscal year to as low as 10 per cent on local lockdowns threatening fragile recovery.

 

While Nomura has downgraded projections of economic growth for the fiscal year ending March 2022 to 12.6 per cent from 13.5 per cent earlier, JP Morgan now projects GDP growth at 11 per cent from 13 per cent earlier. UBS sees 10 per cent GDP growth, down from 11.5 per cent earlier and Citi has downgraded growth to 12 per cent.

 

India's GDP growth had been on the decline even before the pandemic struck earlier last year. From a growth rate of 8.3 per cent in FY'17, the GDP expansion had dipped to 6.8 per cent and 6.5 per cent in the following two years and to 4 per cent in 2019-20.

1:58 PM

PM Modi reiterates importance of masks and urges all to ensure 'do gaj ki doori': PMO

1:49 PM

Less than 100 ICU beds left for Covid patients: Arvind Kejriwal

With the unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases, the national capital is facing shortage of beds as daily positivity rate has jumped to 30 per cent, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told the media after reviewing the Covid situation here on Sunday.

 

"There is a shortage of ICU beds in Delhi. At present less than one hundred ICU beds are available in Delhi. There is a shortage of oxygen too," Kejriwal said.

 

The Delhi Chief Minister has appealed to the Centre for more beds for Covid-19 patients and additional help during the second wave of the pandemic.

1:45 PM

Covid-19 positivity rate doubles to 16.69% in 12 days: Govt

The daily coronavirus positivity rate in India in the last 12 days has doubled to 16.69 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate has increased to 13.54 per cent in the past one month, the Health Ministry said on Sunday.

 

India reported a record 2,61,500 new coronavirus cases and 1,501 deaths on Sunday, while active cases have surpassed the 18-lakh mark, the ministry data stated. Ten states -- Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan -- reported 78.56 per cent of the new infections, it said.

 

"The daily positivity rate in the last 12 days has doubled from 8% to 16.69%," the ministry said in a statement. "The national weekly positivity rate has increased from 3.05% to 13.54% in the last one month."

12:55 PM

Pakistan reports highest single-day coronavirus spike

Pakistan on Sunday reported its highest single-day coronavirus spike this year with over 6,000 new cases and about 149 deaths, as the country struggled to speed up its vaccination programme. The previous highest surge was recorded last year on June 20 when the country reported 6,825 infections and 153 deaths, according to a PTI report.

12:44 PM

Philippine billionaire in hospital after Covid-19 infection

Philippine billionaire Lucio Tan has been hospitalised after testing positive for the coronavirus, his daughter Vivienne Tan said, according to Bloomberg News. The 86-year-old owner of Philippine Airlines Inc. and Philippine National Bank is “in stable condition, responding well and recovering,” his daughter said in a statement.

12:09 PM

Kejriwal seeks more ICU beds

Kejriwal asks central government to reserve 50 per cent beds in hospitals it runs for Covid-19 patients in Delhi

12:07 PM

Delhi hospitals have less than 100 ICU beds left : Kejriwal

Delhi hospitals have less than 100 ICU beds left as they treat Covid-19 patients: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

11:56 AM

Economy may suffer 'greater uncertainty', says Niti Aayog’s Rajiv Kumar

India may suffer "greater uncertainty" in its economy due to the second wave of coronavirus infections, said Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar on Sunday. Kumar said he was hopeful that the country's economy would grow 11 per cent in the fiscal ending March 31.

 

11:12 AM

Maha: 5,275 new Covid-19 cases in Thane, 36 more deaths

Thane has added 5,275 new cases of coronavirus, raising the infection count in the Maharashtra district to 4,11,368, an official said on Sunday. These new cases were reported on Saturday, he said. Thirty six more people also succumbed to the viral infection, pushing the death toll in the district to 6,900. The Covid-19 mortality rate in Thane is 1.68 per cent, he said.

11:12 AM

Arjun Rampal, Neil Nitin Mukesh test positive for COVID-19

Actors Arjun Rampal and Neil Nitik Mukesh have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently under home quarantine. Both Rampal and Mukesh took to their respective social media pages to inform fans about their diagnosis. Sharing a note late Friday, 48-year-old Rampal said though he was "asymptomatic", he was getting the necessary medical care. "I am following all protocols as is required of me. To all those who have been in contact with me in the past 10 days, please take care and take the necessary precautions. "This is a very scary time for us but if we are aware and wise for a short span of time, it will yield long term benefits. Together, we can and we will fight Corona," Rampal wrote.

11:10 AM

Uttarakhand state board examinations for Class 10 cancelled

11:00 AM

Kejriwal to hold Cabinet meeting

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is meeting his cabinet later today as the national capital reports a huge surge in cases. Kejriwal said on Saturday the situation is "very serious and worrisome" in the national capital.

10:56 AM

IIT-JEE (Main) April session exams postponed

IIT-JEE (Main) April session exams postponed amid Covid surge, new dates to be announced later, says National Testing Agency.