The total number of coronavirus infection tally has crossed the mark of 13.35 million. (Photo Source: PTI)Coronavirus Highlights, New Cases In Maharashtra, Delhi New Restrictions: Despite several measures, the number of new coronavirus cases continues to rise as India recorded 152,879 fresh cases COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. With this, the total number of coronavirus infection tally has crossed the mark of 13.35 million, according to figures released by the Union ministry of health and family welfare.
An alarming rise in coronavirus cases has forced the Delhi government to announce new restrictions. The government has banned most public gatherings and has set limits for attendance at theatres, restaurants, on public transport. The new rules, which will remain in force till April 30, also restrict the number of people at functions like weddings and funerals. The government said that these rules will be implemented along with the earlier announced 10-pm-to-5-am night curfew.
Meanwhile, a four-day-long ‘Tika Utsav’ or vaccine festival has started with an aim of inoculating the maximum number of eligible people against the COVID-19. India has started the vaccination drive for everyone above the age of 45 years. However, some states have said that they are facing a shortage of vaccines and have requested the Centre to take appropriate steps immediately.
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Highlights
Assam's coronavirus cases surged to 2,20,310 on Sunday as 352 more people tested positive for the infection while one new fatality pushed the COVID-19 death toll to 1,118, the National Health Mission (NHM) bulletin said. With the state witnessing the second wave of coronavirus infections, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reviewed the preparedness to deal with the pandemic at different places. Of the 352 new COVID-19 cases, Kamrup (Metropolitan) district reported 186 cases followed by Dibrugarh (23), Nagaon (18), Tinsukia (17), the bulletin said. The state currently has a total of 1,902 active COVID-19 cases, while 2,15,943 people have recovered from the virus, including 36 on Sunday, it said. The COVID-19 recovery rate in the state is now 98.02 per cent. (PTI)
As many as 126 fresh COVID-19 cases, including two jail inmates, were reported on Sunday here taking the number of active cases in the district to 817, an official said. According to Chief Medical Officer M S Fojdar, 124 sample results were received of which 126 came out positive for the virus. With 52 recoveries, the number of people cured of the disease has gone up to 8,876 in the district. The total case tally in the district stands at 9,815 with the addition of the latest cases while the death toll remained at 118. (PTI)
Maharashtra recorded 63,294 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, its highest single-day rise since the pandemic broke out, which pushed the caseload to 34,07,245, the health department said. The death of 349 patients due to the infection took the state's toll to 57,987, it said. A total of 34,008 patients were discharged during the day. With this, its recovery count increased to 27,82,161, a statement from the department said. A record 2,63,137 tests were conducted across the state during the day, which took the overall test count to 2,21,14,372. There are 5,65,587 active cases in the state at present. Currently, 31,75,585 people are in home quarantine and 25,694 in institutional quarantine, it said. (PTI)
The number of COVID-19 cases rose by 3,741 on Sunday to reach 2,30,041, while the day also saw 31 deaths and 3,797 people getting discharged, an official said. The toll in the district stands at 2,682 and the recovery count is 1,90,339, he added. With 13,661 samples being examined on Sunday, the number of tests in Nashik went up to 8,87,262, the official said. (PTI)
Kerala logged 6,986 new COVID-19 cases, including 27 health workers, and 16 realted deaths on Sunday, taking the total affected to 11.67 lakh and the toll to 4,783, the health department said. As many as 2,358 people were cured of the disease, taking the total number of recoveries to 11,17,700. A total of 65,003 samples were examined on Sunday, taking the overall number to 1,37,68,841
Colleges in Gujarat on Sunday were directed to remain shut till April 30 amid a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the state, officials said. All government and private colleges have been told to impart education through online mode instead of calling students to the campus, they added. Earlier this month, schools for Classes I to IX were ordered to remain shut. Schools and colleges in Gujarat, which were shut when the lockdown was imposed early last year, were reopened in January and February, 2021 in a phased manner. On Sunday, Gujarat reported over 5,400 COVID-19 cases and 54 deaths. (PTI)
The COVID-19 death toll in Haryana reached 3,268 on Sunday with 16 more fatalities, while 3,440 fresh cases pushed the infection tally to 3,16,881, a health department bulletin said. While three fatalities were reported from Jind, two deaths each were reported from Panipat, Yamunanagar, Bhiwani, Karnal, Ambala and one death each from Gurgaon, Hisar and Sirsa districts. Of the fresh cases, Gurgaon reported 1,084, Faridabad 445 and Karnal 264 infections. (PTI)
In today's meeting with the state COVID19 Task Force, everyone was of the view to impose lockdown in the state; SOPs and guidelines for it to be discussed said Maharashtra Minister Aslam Sheikh.
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray today held a meeting via video conferencing with the state COVID19 Task Force. Discussions are underway on various issues including availability of beds, use of Remdesivir and imposition of restrictions, the Chief Minister's Office office. (ANI)
Central teams have reported non-adherence of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour in almost all of the 50 most-affected districts in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Punjab, the Union health ministry said, advising the states to more strictly enforce norms to prevent spread of the coronavirus. On the basis of feedback from the teams, the ministry has written to the states highlighting the areas of concern, including sub-optimal containment operations and contact tracing, skewed testing and shortage of health workers. Authorities need to work in these areas, it said. Of the 50 districts most affected by COVID-19, 30 are in Maharashtra, 11 in Chhattisgarh and nine in Punjab, it said. In a letter to the states, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the Centre has also taken note of issues related to vaccine availability, and required action to augment supplies will be taken based on available stock. He said a brief summary of key performance indicators related to testing, hospital infrastructure and vaccination, as reported by the teams, has been shared for suitable corrective actions by state or district administrations. Thirty central teams have been deployed for the most-affected districts in Maharashtra, Bhushan said. (PTI)
Delhi recorded 10,774 fresh COVID-19 cases on Sunday, the highest single-day surge in the national capital till date, according to data shared by the health department. According a bulletin issued by the department on Sunday, 48 new fatalities were also recorded, pushing the death toll to 11,283. The fresh cases came out of the record over 1.14 lakh tests conducted the previous day, the bulletin said, adding that the positivity rate stood at 9.43 per cent. The previous highest single-day spike in Delhi -- 8,593 cases -- was reported on November 11 last year, while on November 19, the city recorded 131 COVID-19 deaths, the highest single-day fatality count till date. (PTI)
Amid a spike in coronavirus cases in the state, Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Sunday said that the experts have warned of peak in infections by the first week of May. The Minister also said experts have been asked to submit a report, based on which the government would take appropriate measures in the days to come. "According to experts any wave will be there for 80 to 120 days, we have to be careful till May end, as this is just the beginning," Sudhakar said. Speaking to reporters after meeting with the technical advisory committee (TAC) and expert committee on COVID-19 constituted by the government, he said the infections may peak during the next two to three weeks by May first week and decline by the end of that month. (PTI)
UP records highest-ever single-day spike of 15,353 new COVID-19 cases; 67 fresh deaths push toll to 9,152: Official. (PTI)
Delhi records 10,774 fresh COVID-19 cases, highest single-day spike so far, 48 more fatalities: Health department (PTI)
10,774 new COVID-19 cases and 48 deaths reported in Delhi in the last 24 hours; case tally rises to 7,25,197 (ANI)
The Himachal Pradesh government on Sunday made it mandatory for people coming from seven states which have witnessed a spike in coronavirus cases to show a COVID-19 negative test report on entering the state. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said people coming from Punjab, Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh need to carry a negative RT-PCR report not earlier than 72 hours while visiting Himachal Pradesh from April 16. The decision has been taken to check the spread of COVID-19 in the state, he said. (PTI)
The Maharashtra unit of the Congress will hold protest against the BJP-ruled Centre from Monday by beating plates and ringing bells outside those vaccination centres in the state that have been shut due to the non-availability of COVID-19 vaccines, a party leader said. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, state Congress president Nana Patole wondered how 'Tika Utsav' (vaccine festival) can be observedin the state from April 11 to 14 when several centres are shut as they have run out of doses. (PTI)
At 105, Kartar Kaur of Punjab's Moga received a shot of coronavirus vaccine along with her 80-year-old son on Sunday and urged people not to hesitate and get themselves vaccinated. According to a statement, the Bhinder Khurd village resident believed that the vaccination will keep the fatal disease at bay and advised people to follow all coronavirus-related guidelines. Kaur received her first dose of the vaccine at a health camp in Ward No.3 of Moga along with his Harpinder Singh and other family members. Kaur has set an example for others after she received the jab along with his family members, the statement said, adding that the act reflects her will and determination. (PTI)
Gujarat Government closes offline classes in all government and private colleges in the state of Gujarat till April 30, in view of the current COVID19 situation. (ANI)
The number of active coronavirus cases shot past the 20,000 mark to 20,954 after precisely five months as 3,495 fresh positives were reported, another high after October 24, in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. The state also recorded 1,198 recoveries and nine more COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours ending 9 am on Sunday, a health department bulletin said. The overall infection positivity rate climbed to six per cent after 1.54 crore sample tests turned out 9,25,401 total positives so far. (PTI)
Export of injection Remdesivir and Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) prohibited till the COVID19 situation in the country improves: Government of India
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang along with his wife Krishna Kumari Rai on Sunday received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, following which he appealed to those eligible for the immunisation drive to get inoculated. The chief minister and his wife were administered 'Covishield' vaccine at STNM Hospital near here, an official said. Rural Development Minister Sonam Lama also received the vaccine jab, he said. Speaking to the reporters after getting the vaccine shot, the chief minister urged all the people aged 45 years and above to participate in the 'Tika Utsav', a vaccination drive, starting from Sunday. (PTI)
Himachal Pradesh CM reviewed the COVID19 situation in the state today. CM said an advisory to be issued that people from Punjab, Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and UP need to carry 72-hour prior RTPCR negative report to enter State after Apr 16th: CMO (ANI)
Around 200 eligible inmates of the three jails in the national capital have been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus so far, and none of them has reported any adverse events, officials said on Sunday. A total of 326 inmates in the Delhi's prisons are above 60 years, and over 300 in the 45-59 age bracket with comorbidities. These two categories are eligible for vaccination in the ongoing nationwide drive. Earlier, the Delhi Prisons Department had set up a COVID-19 vaccination centre inside Tihar Jail to vaccinate the inmates. It was set up in the central jail hospital at jail number 3, they said. (PTI)
BJP nominee from Aravakkurichi constituency in the April 6 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, K Annamalai, has tested positive for COVID-19. Annamalai tweeted saying he has tested positive for coronavirus and has been hospitalised. He requested those who came in contact with him recently "to watch out for any symptoms & get tested." A former Karnataka cadre IPS officer, Annamalai had taken voluntary retirement from service in 2019 and joined the BJP last year. (PTI)
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, a year after she was released from jail temporarily amidst the pandemic, according to media reports. The 75-year-old Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief's samples were sent to the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, for testing on Saturday, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper quoted Public Relations Officer, Health Ministry, Maidul Islam Prodhan as saying. (PTI)
Eighty per cent of the total oxygen produced in Chhattisgarh will be supplied for medical purposes to hospitals in the state in view of a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases, a government official said on Sunday. The state health department on Sunday issued a notification in this regard under the Epidemic Diseases Act on the directives of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, he said. As per the notification, manufacturers have been directed to supply 80 per cent of the total oxygen produced in their units to hospitals as 'medical oxygen'. (PTI)
Uttar Pradesh reports 15,353 new cases in the last 24 hours. Active cases: 71,241 Total recoveries: 6,11,622 Total vaccination: 85,15,296. (ANI)
An incubator under Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) has developed a pioneering electronic device that could contain airborne novel coronavirus. The new device of Allabout Innovations Pvt Ltd -- 'Wolf Airmask -- performs real-time sterilisation rupturing the SARS-CoV-2, a press statement from the KSUM said here on Sunday. The device has proven its efficiency at tests conducted by Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), an autonomous institute of the Department of Biotechnology. RGCB, Trivandrum, is an ICMR-recognised testing lab. (PTI)
India to have 5 more COVID vaccines by Oct, Sputnik expected to get emergency use nod in 10 days. (ANI)
A severe spike in COVID-19 cases in Mumbai and persistent talk of a "complete lockdown" there to tackle it has, like last year, made the national highway number 3 skirting past Madhya Pradesh's commercial hub Indore a prime route for wary migrants returning home to states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The number of motorcycles, black-and-yellow mini trucks and autorickshaws, teeming with migrants, have been on the rise over the past few days on a bypass road connected to this route, popularly known as Mumbai-Agra road, eye-witnesses said on Sunday. (PTI)
Night curfew currently in force in Surat city will be extended to rural parts of the district from Sunday to curb the spread of COVID-19, officials said. The Gujarat government last week imposed restrictions on people's movement during night in 20 cities of the state, including Surat. In a notification issued on Saturday night, Surat Collector Dhaval Patel extended the curfew to rural parts of the district from Sunday till April 31. The curfew will remain in force from 8 pm to 6 am, as per the notification. Surat is the first district in Gujarat where the night curfew has been imposed in both urban and rural areas. (PTI)
South Korea says it will resume administrating AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine to all eligible people between the ages of 30 and 60. Last week, South Korea suspended the use of AstraZeneca vaccines for those 60 years old or younger while awaiting the outcome of the European Medicine Agency's review. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Sunday it will restart the use of AstraZeneca vaccine beginning Monday, citing studies showing that the vaccine's benefits outweighs the risk of side effects. An agency statement said those aged 30 or younger will be excluded, as U.K. authorities have recommended they take alternative vaccines. (PTI)
The five states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala cumulatively account for 70.82 per cent of India's active COVID-19 cases which have breached the 11-lakh mark for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday. India's total active caseload has increased to 11,08,087 and it now comprises 8.29 per cent of the country's total infections. A net increase of 61,456 cases has been recorded in the total active caseload in a span of 24 hours. (PTI)
Amid a surge in coronavirus cases and a clamour for Remdesivir, a drug considered useful in the treatment of the infection, a senior Madhya Pradesh official on Sunday said a sizable batch of the drug has arrived and will be distributed to medical facilities as per requirement. Several areas in the state are witnessing people queueing up outside medical stores for the drug, with some of them, agitated at not getting it, blocking a road in Indore for a brief while on April 9. (PTI)
BJP president J P Nadda asked party members on Sunday to work to make the 'Tika Utsav', which aims to inoculate maximum number of eligible people against coronavirus, successful and help keep the society healthy. He urged BJP members to follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi's suggestions fully to make the drive a success. Asserting that the vaccination drive between April 11 and 14 marks the beginning of the second big war on COVID-19, Modi on Sunday made several suggestions to people on tackling the virus and urged them to focus on personal and social hygiene. (PTI)
Congress party's Srivilliputhur constituency candidate in the April 6 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, P S W Madhava Rao died on Sunday due to COVID-19 complications, his family said. Rao was 63 years old and is survived by his only daughter. He died at a private hospital in Madurai this morning where he was admitted on March 20 for treatment, Rao's son-in-law, K Rajiv told P T I. Congress party secretary and Tamil Nadu incharge Sanjay Dutt tweeted saying he was deeply pained to learn about the demise of Rao due to COVID-19 complications. (PTI)
Odisha's COVID-19 tally mounted to 3,49,561 as the state registered this year's highest single-day spike of 1,379 new cases on Sunday, a health official said. The coastal state recorded more than 1,000 coronavirus infections for three consecutive days as the daily caseload was at 1,282 on Friday and 1,374 on Saturday. Of the new cases, 808 were reported from quarantine centres and 571 detected during contact tracing. Sundargarh district recorded the maximum number of fresh cases at 317, followed by Khurda (158), Nuapada (90), Sambalpur (86). The death toll remained at 1,926 as no fresh fatality due to the infection was reported since Saturday. Odisha now has 7,979 active cases, while 3,39,603 patients have so far recovered from the disease. (PTI)
The Congress on Sunday attacked the Centre over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, alleging that COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on Indian lives and economy due to the Modi government's "arrogance and incompetence". The Opposition party also alleged that every section of the society was troubled due to the policies of the government. In an apparent dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi, "No control over coronavirus, not enough vaccines, no employment, labourers and farmers not being given a hearing, no protection for MSMEs, nor the middle class is satisfied...It was okay to eat 'aam' (mango), but should have at least spared 'aam aadmi (common person)'!" (PTI)
Actor R Madhavan on Sunday said that he has recovered from coronavirus but still taking utmost care and precaution. The 50-year-old actor took to Twitter and gave a health update, saying that his mother has also tested negative for COVID-19. "Thank you all for the concern and prayers. All at home including Amma have tested Covid Negative again," Madhavan wrote. "Although we have crossed the infection stage, we are all taking utmost care, precautions and following protocol even at home. Gods grace we are all fit and fine now," he added. (PTI)