Coronavirus News Highlights: Maharashtra reports 27,126 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours

The Haryana Health Department has administered 3,85,103 vaccine doses in the past six days, taking the number of beneficiaries to 9,07,478 in the state, according to an official.

Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rajeev Arora said on Saturday that the concept of “Mega Vaccine Day” on two days of a week has been rewarding. The state has already administered the COVID-19 vaccine doses to 9,07,478 beneficiaries in all, he said.

Divulging details, Arora said the Health Department administered the vaccine doses to 14,581 beneficiaries on Saturday.

The concept of “Mega Vaccination Day” was introduced on Monday when 1.5 lakh (1,58,901) beneficiaries were administered the vaccine.

Domestic carrier IndiGo on March 20 handed over a passenger from its Bengaluru-Kolkata flight to security agencies at the destination airport for not wearing a mask despite repeated warnings from the flight crew, government officials said. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had last Saturday asked airlines to de-board passengers who do not wear masks “properly” despite repeated warnings.

4,36,75,564 vaccine doses have been administered in the country, as per the provisional report till 7 pm on March 20. A total of 16,12,172 vaccine doses were given till 7 pm on March 20, the 64th day of nationwide COVID-19 vaccination: Ministry of Health

In view of the resurgence of COVID-19 infection, schools will remain closed for students of Classes 9 and 11 with effect from March 22 until further orders: Puducherry Government

PakistanPrime Minister Imran Khan's wife and First Lady Bushra Bibi has also tested positive for coronavirus: Pakistan Media

Karnataka logged over 1,798 new COVID-19 cases and seven related fatalities, taking the COVID-19 caseload to 9.68 lakh and the toll to 12,432, the Health Department said on March 20. Bengaluru Urban continued to head the list of cases, accounting for 1,186 infections. This is for the fifth consecutive day that the state is reporting over 1,000 new cases. The day also saw 1,030 patients getting discharged after recovery.

West Bengal's COVID-19 tally mounted to 5,80,209 as 383 more people tested positive for the infection, while two fresh fatalities took the state's coronavirus death toll to 10,303, a health bulletin said. Kolkata reported the highest number of new cases at125, followed by North 24 Parganas at 99 and Howrah at 33, it said. Two COVID-19 patients from Kolkata and North 24Parganas died due to comorbidities in the last 24 hours, the bulletin said. Altogether, 298 people were cured of the disease since Friday, taking the total number of recoveries in the state to 5,66,526. The discharge rate of COVID-19 patients stands at 97.64 per cent. West Bengal now has 3,380 active cases. The state has so far conducted 89,37,990 sample tests, the bulletin added. (PTI)

Total cases 2,10,466
Total recoveries 1,87,198
Death toll 6,280

Active cases 16,988

With Covid19 cases on the rise in the state, the TamilNadu government has decided to close schools for students of Classes IX, X and XI with effect from Monday, 22 March. (IANS)

Total cases 24,49,147
Total recoveries 22,03,553
Death toll 53,300

Active cases 1,91,006

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishes a speedy recovery to Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan, who tested positive for COVID-19 on March 20

With a spurt in coronavirus cases in the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has decided to carry out over 47,000 rapid antigen tests at public places every day.

People will be chosen randomly for testing. Even if a person has already undergone testing, the civic body will insist on retesting, as detection of the infection is more important, the BMC official said.

Over 40 lakh people have received the COVID-19 vaccine jab in Maharashtra since the immunization drive commenced on January 16, an official said on March 20. As per the data released by the state health department, 1,89,130 persons received vaccine shots on Friday, raising the tally to 40,96,898.