Coronavirus News LIVE Updates: India's active COVID-19 cases drop by 1,259 in past 24 hrs; total over 2.24 lakh

India's active COVID-19 cases drop by 1,259 in past 24 hrs

After a small rise on Friday, the active number of cases in India declined to 2,24,190 in the past 24 hours. According to the Union health ministry, the active cases comprise 2.16 percent of the total caseload as on Saturday.

India had registered 2,25,449 active COVID-19 cases on Friday, which reduced by 1,259 in a span of 24 hours.

Two deaths, 298 new COVID-19 cases in Telangana

Telangana registered 298 fresh coronavirus cases, pushing the total caseload to 2.89 lakh, while the count surged to 1,563 with two more fatalities.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 61, followed by Rangareddy and Medchal Malkajgiri districts with 28 and 25 respectively, a state government bulletin said on Saturday providing details as of 8 pm.

Of 1.5 lakh COVID-19 deaths in India, Maharashtra reports highest 

Of the 228 new COVID-19 fatalities reported on Saturday, 73 are from Maharashtra, 21 from West Bengal, 17 from Uttar Pradesh, 10 from Delhi, and eight from Tamil Nadu.

The total 1,50,798 deaths reported so far in the country include 49,970 from Maharashtra, followed by 12,134 from Karnataka, 12,208 from Tamil Nadu, 10,654 from Delhi, 9,902 from West Bengal, 8,469 from Uttar Pradesh, 7,127 from Andhra Pradesh, 5,437 from Punjab and 4,335 from Gujarat.

Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro asks India to expedite vaccine shipment

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite a shipment of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine amid broader delays to the vaccine's arrival in Brazil, according to a letter on Friday.

"To enable the immediate implementation of our National Immunization Program, I would appreciate the supply to Brazil, with the possible urgency and without jeopardizing the Indian vaccination program, of 2 million doses," Bolsonaro wrote in the letter, shared by his press office.

Bolsonaro's letter, released by his press office, comes amid growing pressure to speed up Brazil's vaccine rollout and end the world's second-deadliest coronavirus outbreak. Critics say the immunization campaign is running behind regional peers, and they question why the government has not moved more quickly.

Nation ready to save humanity with 'Made in India' vaccines: PM 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention, a flagship event of the Ministry of External Affairs to engage and connect with the overseas Indians. Speaking at the convention, Modi lauded the contributions of the diaspora to the global community.

"India used to import PPE kits, masks, ventilators and testing kits from outside but today our nation is self-reliant. Today India is ready to save humanity with two 'Made in India' COVID-19 vaccines," said Modi.

COVID-19 recovery rate in India reaches 96.4%

With a total of 1,00,56,651 COVID-19 patients being cured, the national recovery rate climbed to 96.41 percent on Saturday, according to Union Health Ministry data.

Over 18.02 cr COVID-19 samples tested so far: ICMR

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a total of 18,02,53,315 COVID-19 samples have been tested so far — while 9,16,951 of them being tested on Friday alone. 

Active COVID-19 cases in India account for 2.16% of total caseload

There are 2,24,190 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which constitute 2.16 percent of the total caseload, according to the Union health ministry data released on Saturday.

Domestic airfare limits to remain in place till 31 March: Aviation ministry

The upper and lower limits on domestic airfares will remain in place till 31 March, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Friday.

The ministry had on 21 May, 2020, placed these limits through seven bands, classified on the basis of flight duration, till 24 August. Later, they were extended till 24 November, and then till 24 February, 2021.

"The capping of fare...is hereby further extended till 23.59 hours on 31 March, 2021," the ministry said in an order.

Jharkhand reports 207 new COVID-19 cases, two more deaths

Jharkhand's COVID-19 tally rose to 1,16,436 as 207 more people tested positive for the infection, a health department official said on Saturday. The death count increased to 1,043 after two persons from Ranchi and Dhanbad succumbed to the disease in the past 24 hours, he said.

Ranchi district registered the maximum number of fresh cases at 102, followed by Dhanbad at 29 and East Singhbhum at 17.

228 COVID-19 deaths in past 24 hrs: Centre

With 228 new fatalities due to the novel coronavirus reported in the past 24 hours, the COVID-19 toll in the country climbed to 1,50,798 on Saturday, said the health ministry.

India reports 18,222 new cases

India registered 18,222 fresh infections of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours taking the overall count to 1,04,31,639, said the Union health ministry on Saturday. 

Teachers on COVID duty will be frontline workers for vaccine drive: Sisodia

Teachers in schools run by the Delhi government and the municipal corporations — who have been actively involved in COVID-19 duty — will also be included in the list of front line workers to be vaccinated in the first phase, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said on Friday.

China has administered more than 9 million vaccine doses

China has administered more than 9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, Reuters quoted National Health Commission official Zeng Yixin as saying on Saturday.

China to provide COVID-19 vaccines free of cost to public

China will provide COVID-19 vaccines free of charge once they become available to general public, government authorities said on Saturday.

At a press event in Beijing, Zheng Zhongwei, an official with China's National Health Commission, told reporters that while manufacturing and transport of vaccines does have costs, the government will still be able to provide vaccines for free to individuals.

"Our people don't have to pay a single cent for the vaccine," said Zheng.

RECAP: India's COVID-19 recovery rate at 96.39%

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,00,37,398, pushing the national recovery rate to 96.39 percent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stood at 1.45 percent.

The active COVID-19 caseload remained below three lakh for the 18th consecutive day.

There are 2,25,449 active coronavirus infections in the country, which account for 2.16 percent of the total caseload, the data stated.

RECAP: COVID-19 caseload details

India's total caseload of cases rose to 1,04,13,417 on Friday, while the recoveries surged to 1,00,37,398, according to data updated by the Union health ministry.

A total of 18,139 new infections were reported in the span of 24 hours. Meanwhile, the toll increased to 1,50,570, as 234 more people succumbed to the disease during the same period, the data updated at 8 am showed.

Harsh Vardhan says India will be able to vaccinate entire population soon

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday said soon it will be a reality to vaccinate the entire population in the country against COVID-19 after prioritising risk groups.

The Centre has started a new COVID platform to track particulars of potential vaccine beneficiaries and also issue electronic certificates to them, he told reporters after reviewing the dry run of administering COVID-19 vaccine at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital here as part of a state-wide programme.

Second inoculation dry run held across 736 districts

The second nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive was conducted on Friday in 736 districts across all states and union territories. Overseeing the exercise in Tamil Nadu, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that the entire population of the country will be inoculated soon.