Coronavirus LIVE Updates: People Above 60, Those Above 45 With Illnesses To Be Vaccinated from March 1

7,000 SARS-CoV-2 Mutations Detected, Different from Variants: Scientists | More than 7,000 SARS-CoV-2 mutations have been documented but that doesn’t translate to variants, say scientists, emphasising the distinction between the two and cautioning that the spike in cases in some states is likely due to non-adherence of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour. If safety protocols are not followed, new versions that can spread faster or dominate the previous version could emerge, they warned as worries mounted over a recent study showing 7,684 mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome in India.

India had on January 16 launched the world's largest vaccination drive against the Covid-19 pandemic, which has claimed more than a million lives, sunk economies, shuttered businesses, and shattered…

Punjabi Singer Sardool Sikander Dies of Covid-19 in Mohali Hospital | Noted Punjabi singer and actor Sardool Sikander died on Wednesday at a Mohali hospital where he was undergoing treatment for COVID-19. He was 60. Sikander, who had undergone a renal transplant in 2016 and was admitted to hospital on January 19, passed away at 11.55 am, sources at Fortis Hospital said. They said his condition worsened in the last few days and he was put on life support systems. 

Mamata Banerjee Writes to PM Modi, Seeks Free Vaccine For Everyone | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee writes to PM Narendra Modi, seeking his help in procurement of Covid-19 vaccines by the state govt to vaccinate everyone free of cost. "West Bengal Govt has decided to procure adequate number of vaccines for members of public at large," she writes. 

Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Everyone above 60 years of age and those over 45 years and having other illnesses will be able to get COVID-19 vaccine from March 1 for free at government facilities and for a charge at many private hospitals, the government said on Wednesday. Announcing the next phase of India's vaccination drive, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said a proposal to this effect was approved at a meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said that vaccine will be available for people above 60 years of age and those above 45 years of age with comorbidities from March 1 adding that the jabs…

The order further stated that swimming pools and libraries will also remain closed in Nagpur till March 7, the official said. Following a review meeting, Nagpur Guardian Minister Nitin Raut had informed that the administration has decided to close schools, colleges and coaching classes till March 7. All major markets in the district will also remain shut on weekends, it was stated. Nagpur has recorded 1,44,534 COVID-19 cases, including 4,291 casualties and 1,33,775 recoveries. As on Tuesday, the district had 6,468 active cases.

Hotels, Eateries to Stay Shut in Nagpur on Weekends | Considering the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, the civic body in Maharashtra's Nagpur city on Wednesday directed that restaurants, hotels and eateries will remain closed on weekends till further orders, an official said. This comes after the district administration on Monday ordered the shutting of schools and colleges till March 7. In a revised order, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has informed that restaurants, hotels and eateries along with shops will remain closed on weekends till further orders, the official said. However, kitchens of hotels, restaurants and eateries can continue to function for online food delivery, he said.

'Vaccine Will be Given Free of Cost at Govt Centres' | Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that From March 1, people above 60 years of age and those above 45 years of age with comorbidities will be vaccinated at 10,000 govt and over 20,000 private vaccination centres. The vaccine will be given free of cost at government centres.

Vaccine to be Available for People Above 60 from March | Covid-19 Vaccine for poeple above 60 will be available from March onwards. The government said that people above 45 with co morbidity will also be able to get vaccines. The vaccine will be free at Government centres while it will be paid at other places.

The positive persons must be promptly isolated/hospitalised, all their close contacts be traced and also tested without delay. The Centre has reminded the states and UTs that any laxity in implementing stringent measures to curb the spread, especially in view of new strain of virus observed in certain countries, could compound the situation. 

These states and UTs have been advised to increase testing in a focussed manner in the affected districts with the appropriate split of RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests and to also ensure that all symptomatic negatives of antigen tests are compulsorily tested via RT-PCR tests, the ministry said.

In the letter, the Union Health Secretary has exhorted Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir to focus on undertaking aggressive measures to break the chain of transmission and to ensure that RT-PCR testing is amplified to flush out hitherto undetected cases from the population. 

The Centre has also written to Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir which have been witnessing a rise in daily COVID cases, along with decreasing proportion of RT-PCR tests and rise in positivity in some districts. 

"These teams will work closely with the states and UT administration and ascertain reasons for the recent surge in the number of COVID-19 cases. They will also coordinate with health authorities of the states and UT for requisite COVID-19 control measures to break the chain of transmission," the ministry said.

Centre Rushes High Level Teams to States | The Centre has deputed multi-disciplinary teams to states witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases, including Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat, Punjab, Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir, to support them in effectively tackling the pandemic. The three-member multidisciplinary teams are headed by joint secretary level officers in the health ministry, the Union Health Ministry said.

Amid rise in coronavirus cases across the country, the Sangam City of Prayagraj reported 19 new infections on Tuesday. Out of the total new cases, 13 infections were traced from two schools alone. Nine cases were reported from Bishop Johnson School. Four infection cases including the Principal and Vice-Principal of St. Joseph's School were also registered. All the cases were reported amongst school staff and teachers. On Monday, a parent teachers' meeting was held in St. Joseph's School.

The issue had also been discussed in a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Monday. Maharashtra is showing a daily surge in COVID-19 cases, according to an official of the Union Health Ministry. Kerala is showing an incremental decline, but the daily cases in absolute numbers is still high over there. Punjab, with its daily increase in cases, is also a cause of worry.

People travelling in flights, trains and buses from these states will have to produce negative test report before entering Delhi, they said. The requirement of the negative COVID-19 test report is likely to be implemented from Friday night, officials said.

Delhi May Ask People for Negative COVID-19 Test Report | Amid a spike in coronavirus infections in some states, the Delhi government is likely to ask travellers from five states, including Maharashtra, Kerala and Punjab, to show negative COVID-19 test report before entering the national capital, officials said today. They said an official order will be issued later in the day and it will be effective till March 15.

Rs 5,000 Cr Annual Loss to WR Due to COVID-19 | The Western Railway is facing an annual revenue loss of about Rs 5,000 crore due to COVID-19 crisis which affected services and led to a drop in the number of train travellers, a senior official has said. Many people are still reluctant to travel by train due to fear of the coronavirus, Western Railway's General Manager Alok Kansal said yesterday.

Here are All Your FAQs Answered on Covid-19 Variants | The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday said that two variants of the novel coronavirus have been detected in at least three states in India as the country also witnesses an upsurge in the number of infections. READ MORE

As Maharashtra battles a surge in Coronavirus cases, Municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said a chunk on cases could be attributed to public movement as local trains resumed services.

Night Curfew in Ratnagiri | Ratnagiri in coastal Maharashtra announces night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am in bid to control surge in coronavirus cases. 

Thane Reports 463 New Covid-19 Cases | Thane reported 463 new coronavirus cases, taking the tally of the Maharashtra district to 2,61,667. The death toll rose to 6,246 after three more deaths. 

Maharashtra Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Jalna District Collector has ordered to shut schools, colleges, coaching classes and weekly markets in the district till March 31, due to current Covid-19 situation. Rapid Antigen test of all vegetable, fruit, newspaper vendors to be conducted periodically: Jalna SP V Deshmukh

Delhi has made it mandatory for travellers from five states, where Covid-19 cases are on a rise, to carry a negative coronavirus test report upon arrival to the national capital from Friday, February…

India Coronavirus LIVE Updates | India reports 13,742 new coronavirus cases, 14,037 discharges, and 104 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per latest data by the Union Health Ministry. Total cases have reached 1,10,30,176 and includes 1,07,26,702 discharges and 1,46,907 active cases. Death toll rose to 1,56,567 and the total vaccination were at 1,21,65,598.

PGIMER Chief On Covid-19 Strains in India | New Covid-19 strains detected in India and the UK strain is highly transmissible. We should take all possible precautions to prevent the rise in cases. Currently, we have 55 Covid-19 cases at the hospital. The cases have gone up in the last two weeks: Director, PGIMER Chandigarh