COVID-19 is reflected in a drop on a syringe needle. (Reuters photo)Coronavirus Highlights: After a promising beginning in 2021, India is again slipping into a disturbing territory of local lockdowns and Covid-related hospitalisations. Maharashtra and Karnataka are the worst-hit states in what the health experts are calling the second wave of the coronavirus in India. Many medical practitioners have said that such a recurring pattern of rising in infections is common for coronavirus. What is appalling is the little regard people are paying towards face masks and social distancing. Drop in the cases and opening up of the economic activities had led to increased mobilisation of people.
But this has led to higher levels of community transmission. The government has so far said that foreign variants of the coronavirus have no role in the current surge. An FE report had earlier highlighted how the guard was let down and the testing levels were decreased, which has led to the fresh spike in the Covid-19 infections. On Sunday, India logged in the highest number of coronavirus cases in the last 80 days. As states scramble to form an action plan to fight the coronavirus, here are all the latest, freshest and verified updates of coronavirus cases in India and around the world.
In Maharashtra, the worst-hit state in the country, the number of Covid-19 cases has been growing rapidly. Some districts have also imposed lockdown and severe curbs in order to control the spike. “Corona cases are increasing, if situation deteriorates then lockdown will be announced in districts that will report more cases,” Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Monday said. Around 20 lakhs people in Mumbai have been fined for not following COVID norms, he informed.
Highlights
Pune district reported 2,182 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking its total case count to 4,40,248, a health official said on Monday evening. The death toll in the district reached 9,428 with 15 more fatalities, he added. "Of 2,182 cases, 1,082 are from the Pune Municipal Corporation limits, whose caseload has reached 2,19,285," the official added. However, 678 patients were also discharged from the hospitals in Pune city. With 728 new cases, the infection count in Pimpri-Chinchwad area rose to 1,14,754. (PTI)
Chhattisgarh's COVID-19 count rose to 3,17,974 on Monday with addition of 645 cases, while the death toll mounted by seven to reach 3,897, a health official said. The number of recovered patients increased to 3,09,979 after 35 people were discharged from hospitals and 393 others completed home isolation during the day. The number of active cases in the state stands at 4,098, the official informed. "With 203 new cases, Raipur district's count rose to 57,344, including 818 deaths. Durg district recorded 154 new cases and Bilaspur 50, among other districts. Of the seven deaths recorded during the day, four took place on Monday and three on Sunday," he added. With 40,063 samples being examined on Monday, the overall number of tests in Chhattisgarh touched 52,17,829. Chhattisgarh's coronavirus figures are as follows: Positive cases 3,17,974, new cases 645, death toll 3,897, recovered 3,09,979, active cases 4,098, Tests today 40,063, Total tests 52,17,829. (PTI)
1,843 fresh cases push Punjab's COVID-19 tally to 1,99,573, death toll mounts to 6,099 with 27 more fatalities; number of active cases now 11,942: Medical bulletin (PTI)
Karnataka logged 932 fresh COVID-19 cases and seven related fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 9.61 lakh and the toll to 12,397, the Health department said on Monday. The day also saw 429 patients getting discharged after recovery. Bengaluru Urban continued to top the list of fresh cases, with 550 infections. Cumulatively 9,61,204 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 12,397 deaths and 9,39,928 discharges, the Health department said in a bulletin. Out of 8,860 active cases, 8,735 patients are stable and in isolation at designated hospitals, while 125 are in Intensive Care Units. Bengaluru Urban also accounted for five deaths, the other two being reported from Bidar and Mysuru. Following Bengaluru Urban in number of cases was Dakshina Kannada with 65, Mysuru 46, Kalaburagi 43, Tumakuru 40, while the rest were scattered in other districts. (PTI)
Mumbai added over 1500 COVID-19 cases for the sixth day in a row on Monday, taking its tally to 3,43,947, an official said. Monday's addition of 1,712 cases was also the third day when the surge was over the 1700-mark, with 1,962 cases being reported on Sunday, he said. Four deaths took the toll to 11,535, while the recovery count touched 3,17,579 after 1,239 people were discharged on Monday, the official added. The city now has 13,940 active cases, and BMC data showed that the daily growth rate of cases had increased to 0.39 per cent from 0.17 per cent on February 18, while the case doubling time had come down to 176 from 417 days. With 15,697 samples being examined in the last 24 hours, the number of tests in Mumbai went up to 35,84,056. The city has 31 containment zones and 220 sealed buildings. (PTI)
The Punjab School Education Board on Monday announced the postponement of the final exams of classes 10 and 12 by about a month in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases in the state. The exams of class 10 will now start from May 4 instead of April 9, the date which was earlier scheduled, according to a statement issued by the PSEB. |Read More
Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar recorded two new cases of COVID-19 on Monday that pushed the district's infection tally to 25,669, official data showed. The active cases in the district dropped to 73 from 84 the previous day, according to the data released by the UP Health Department for a 24-hour period. Another 13 patients got discharged during the period with the overall recoveries reaching 25,505, the fifth highest in the state, it showed. Gautam Buddh Nagar has a death toll of 91 with a mortality rate of 0.35 per cent. The recovery rate of patients remained at 99.36 per cent, the statistics showed. Meanwhile, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh came down to 1,838 from 1,851 on Sunday while the overall recoveries reached 5,94,855 and the death toll reached at 8,748 on Monday, the data showed. (PTI)
Delhi on Monday recorded 368 new COVID-19 cases, while the positivity rate stood at 0.59 per cent, according to data shared by the health department. On Sunday, the daily fresh cases tally had crossed the 400-mark for the fourth consecutive day. Delhi on Saturday had recorded 419 COVID-19 cases while the positivity rate stood at 0.56 per cent. On Sunday, the city reported 407 cases and the positivity rate was 0.60 per cent. On Friday, Delhi had recorded 431 cases, the highest in over two months, and the count on Thursday was 409. The COVID-19 death climbed to 10,944 on Monday with three more fatalities being reported in the national capital, as per the bulletin. A total of 585 cases were reported on January 1 and 424 on January 3. The daily count had dropped to 306 on January 11 and risen again to 386 on January 12, according to official figures. (PTI)
The COVID-19 tally in Nashik increased by 1,376 in Monday to reach 1,34,966, while six deaths took the toll to 2,176, an official said. A total of 1,23,923 people have been discharged in the district, including 551 on Monday, the official added. With 3,348 samples being examined on Monday, the overall number of tests in Nashik went up to 5,83,271, he said. Due to the rise in cases, Nashik Municipal corporation said all schools in civic areas will be shut till March 31. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers on the COVID-19 situation and the ongoing vaccination drive on Wednesday as the Centre looks to ramp up the inoculation exercise amid a rise in infection in some states. Official sources said Modi will hold a video conference to discuss the issues with chief ministers, an exercise which he has been holding regularly since the outbreak of the pandemic. | Read More
Delhi records 368 new COVID-19 cases, tally rises to 6,44,064, death toll climbs to 10,944 with three more fatalities; active case count 2,321: Health department bulletin (PTI)
Cinema halls, hotels, restaurants and offices except those related to health and essential services in Maharashtra will function at 50 percent capacity till March 31, the state government said on Monday. Violation of norms will result in the shutting down of the establishment as long as the Central government's notification of the COVID-19 pandemic as a 'disaster' is in force, it said. Nobody will be allowed inside these establishments without wearing a mask and a temperature check, the state government said in a notification as Maharashtra again recorded 15,000-plus new cases of infection on Monday. Establishments (cinema halls, hotels, offices) will ensure they have enough personnel to enforce the mask rule as well as physical distancing by all visitors. These restrictions will be applicable to shopping malls too. | Read More
Karnataka reports 932 new COVID-19 cases, 429 recoveries, and 7 deaths in the last 24 hours
Total cases: 9,61,204Total recoveries: 9,39,928Active cases: 8,860Death toll: 12,397 (ANI)
The German government said Monday that it’s suspending the use of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine over new reports of dangerous blood clots in connection with the shot. The Health Ministry said the decision was taken as a ‘precaution’ and on the advice of Germany’s national vaccine regulator, the Paul Ehrlich Institute, which called for further investigation of the cases. | Read More
Kewal Krishan, who was just five years old during the deadly the Spanish Flu of 1918, and later became part of the drafting committee of the Constituent Assembly of India, received his first shot of anti-COVID-19 vaccine in Delhi on Monday, his son said. Krishan, now 107, stepped out of his home in south Delhi "for the first time since the coronavirus-induced lockdown was imposed late March in 2020" to get his Covieshield jab, son Anil Krishna said. "We had kept him literally in a bubble, and given the nature of the virus, we decided to keep him safe within the confines of home. And, today, we just took him in a car to the hospital, where he had undergone a major operation in 2019, got the vaccine shot, and came back," he said. He is feeling fine and has not exhibited any adverse effects post immunisation, the son said, adding, that he performed his daily 'puja' after returning home. "When the pandemic hit us all last year and we got to learn about the 1918 Spanish Flu too, I used to ask my dad about that time, but he was just a five-year-old boy then, and with age and infirmity, his memory has faded, along with reduced eyesight and hearing capacity," 72-year-old Krishna told PTI.
Maharashtra reports 15,051 new COVID-19 cases, 10,671 discharges, and 48 deaths in the last 24 hours (ANI)
A week-long lockdown with strict restrictions came into force in Nagpur district of Maharashtra on Monday to contain the rise in COVID-19 cases. Hundreds of persons were fined for not wearing masks and vehicles were detained during the day. The lockdown will continue till March 21, during which period people have been asked to avoid leaving home unless necessary so that the chain of infection can be broken, officials said. The district on Monday reported 2,297 new COVID-19 cases, taking the overall tally to 1,72,799, and 12 deaths.
Speaking to reporters in the evening, city police commissioner Amitesh Kumar informed that as of 3 pm, 638 vehicles were detained for unwarranted movement, fine was imposed on 861 people for not wearing masks, and 363 were fined for not maintaining physical distancing. As many as 14 offences were registered at various police stations.
Nagpur Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B said the response to the lockdown was good on the first day. 'Movement of people was not affected, only unwanted movement is being restricted,' the civic chief told PTI. As many as 99 check points have been set up across Nagpur and eight on the city's border. Besides, 99 patrolling vehicles, two companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), six platoons of the Riot Control Police and 500 Home Guards have been deployed for the implementation of the lockdown, said the commissioner.
Only one person is allowed to travel on a two-wheeler and two persons in a four-wheeler. Two persons are permitted on a two-wheeler if they are heading to a hospital or going for vaccination, he said. Local residents are allowed to travel to other cities as per the guidelines laid down by the district administration. Passenger and goods vehicles going out or passing through Nagpur city are allowed to travel via the Outer Ring Road. The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court will conduct hearings through video-conference till March 21. (PTI)
Thiruvananthapuram with 130 new cases reported the maximum number, followed by Malappuram with 124 and Ernakulam (119). Out of those testing positive today, 33 reached the state from outside while 903 contracted the disease from their contacts, the minister said in a release. "The source of infection of 113 is yet to be traced. Five health workers are also among the infected," she added. Currently there are 352 hotspots in the state. (PTI)
Kerala reported 1,054 new COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths on Monday, pushing the infection count to 10,92,673 and the death toll to 4,407. A total of 3,463 people recuperated from the disease today, taking the total cured to 10,60,560, while 27,057 are under treatment. There are 1,43,461 people under observation out of which 4,152 are in isolation wards of various hospitals across the state. State health minister K K Shailaja said the state government had tested 38,410 samples in the last 24 hours and the test positivity rate was 2.74 per cent. Until now, the state has tested 1,23,29,604 samples. (PTI)
The Parbhani district administration on Monday moved to restrict private bus services from cities like Mumbai and others from Tuesday in view of a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, officials said. Private bus services from Parbhani to places like Mumbai, Aurangabad, Pune and Nanded will be halted from March 16 till March 23, an order issued by Collector Deepak Muglikar said. In Aurangabad, Collector Sunil Chavan said dining service in hotels and restaurants, which was allowed at 50 per cent capacity earlier, was being stopped and now eateries in the district can only take orders for takeaway parcels. The dining-in restriction will be in force from March 16 till further orders, he added. (PTI)
Gujarat: Restaurants, malls, showrooms, pan shops, clubs, tea stalls, hair salons will be closed after 10 pm in eight wards of Ahmedabad. Manekchowk Food and Beverage Market and Raipur Food and Beverage Market will also be closed. (ANI)
In wake of rising cases of COVID-19, Gujarat's Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation orders closure of shops after 10 pm in eight wards -- Jodhpur, Navrangpura, Bodakdev, Thaltej, Gota, Paldi, Ghatlodia & Maninagar (ANI)
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A total number of 26,165 persons have been inoculated till date in Puducherry, which includes 12,831 health care workers, 4,659 front line staffs and 8,675 general public.
Maharashtra reported 15,051 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours while 10,671 patients have been discharged. The state has reported 48 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the toll to 52,909 as of 15 March, according to the state health department. So far, Maharashtra, the worst-hit state in the country, has reported 23,29,464 Covid-19 cases; out of which 21,44,743 patents have been discharged. The state still has 1,30,547 active Covid-19 cases.
A week-long lockdown with strict restrictions came into force in Nagpur district of Maharashtra on Monday to contain the rise in COVID-19 cases. Hundreds of persons were fined for not wearing masks and vehicles were detained during the day. The lockdown will continue till March 21, during which period people have been asked to avoid leaving home unless necessary so that the chain of infection can be broken, officials said. PTI
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that its advisory panel was reviewing reports related to AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine but there was no evidence that any health incidents were caused by the shot. In a reply to Reuters, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said: "As soon as WHO has gained a full understanding of these events, the findings and any unlikely changes to current recommendations will be immediately communicated to the public."As of today, there is no evidence that the incidents are caused by the vaccine and it is important that vaccination campaigns continue so that we can save lives and stem severe disease from the virus," he added. (Reuters)
No new report of Covid-19 positive cases reported in the past 24 hours in Manipur. Two recovered from COVID-19. The total number of positive cases in the state stagnated at 29313 and recovered cases stood at 28,916. No death report due to COVID-19 in past 24 hours, total fatality stagnated at 373.
Jammu and Kashmir recorded 94 new coronavirus cases on Monday, taking the tally to 1.28 lakh, while no fresh death was reported, officials said. Out of the fresh cases, nine were from the Jammu division and 85 from the Kashmir division of the Union territory, officials said. Srinagar district recorded the highest number of 49 cases, followed by 13 in Kupwara district. Eleven districts did not report any fresh case, while seven other districts had cases in single digits. The number of active cases is 937, while 1.25 lakh patients have recovered so far, the officials said. The death toll stands at 1,974 and the infection tally is 1,27,734. PTI
In recent days, countries including Denmark, Ireland, and Thailand have temporarily suspended their use of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine after reports that some people who got a dose developed blood clots, even though there’s no evidence that the shot was responsible. The European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization say the data available do not suggest the vaccine caused the clots and that people should continue to be immunised. Here’s a look at we know and what we don’t. READ MORE
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday said negligence towards COVID-19 appropriate behaviour is the main reason behind rising cases, adding that few states account for more than 80 per cent of the cases. He stressed that coronavirus appropriate behaviour like wearing masks and maintaining social distancing should be followed despite the availability of vaccine against the disease. Vardhan was speaking during the sixth mega health camp for super-specialist consultations for parliamentarians held in Parliament House Annexe. The camp was inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in the presence of the health minister, a health ministry statement said. (PTI)
In view of the surge in COVID-19 cases, all public and private Hospitals in SAS Nagar to dedicate resources towards the treatment of COVID patients. Avoid elective surgeries until further orders: Girish Dayalan, DC SAS Nagar. (ANI)
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Stainless steel maker Jindal Stainless Ltd (JSL) on Monday said it will bear the cost of COVID-19 vaccination for its over 35,000 direct and indirect employees and their families across the country. "The company will bear the total cost of both the mandated COVID-19 vaccination shots for its entire workforce to ensure their safety and well-being. "Under this initiative, over 35,000 employees including contractual workers, retainers, and their immediate family members will be benefitted across the country," JSL said in a statement. (PTI)
India crosses the milestone of 3.15 crore Covid-19 vaccinations, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.
The Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday that it may not be desirable to create a separate class of judges, lawyers and court staff below the age of 45 for administering the COVID-19 vaccine on priority basis. It said the vaccine, which is already being produced beyond the manpower and infrastructural capacity, is also being exported in view of the global pandemic. (PTI)
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Monday said fresh lockdown is no answer to therising COVID-19 cases in the state, but restrictions will be made stricter. Though the number of cases has seen a rise in the last few days, the mortality rate remains low, he noted. Maharashtra recorded this year's highest one-day spike of 16,620 new cases on Sunday. "Lockdown is not an option but restrictions will be made more strict," Tope told reporters. As much as 85 per cent of new patients are asymptomatic and hence most of them have been advised home quarantine, he added. "Tracking, testing and treatment is being followed. The number of tests has also been increased. Weddings and social gatherings are being restricted," he said. PTI
The National Vaccination Day, also called the National Immunization Day, is celebrated every year on March 16 to convey the importance of vaccination to the entire nation. The day was first observed in the year 1995, the year on which India started Pulse Polio Programme. This year, the National Vaccination Day is important as the country has started its biggest Covid-19 immunization programme early this year and has already crossed the 30 million mark. READ MORE
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Facebook is adding informational labels to posts about vaccines as it expands efforts to counter COVID-19-related misinformation flourishing on its platforms. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a blog post Monday that labels will contain "credible information" about the vaccines from the World Health Organization. "They will be in English and five other languages, with more languages added in coming weeks. For example, we're adding a label on posts that discuss the safety of COVID-19 vaccines that notes COVID-19 vaccines go through tests for safety and effectiveness before they're approved," Zuckerberg said. (AP)