Coronavirus News Highlights | Maharashtra reports 13,659 new cases in the last 24 hours

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Mumbai recorded 1,539 new COVID-19 cases, the highest number of infectionssince October last year, an official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said. With this, the city's COVID-19 tally has reached 3,37,123, the official said. According to the latest data from the civic body, five fatalities were reported in the city in the last 24 hours, raising the toll to 11,511. This is the first time since October 21, 2020, thatMumbai's single-day count has crossed the 1,500 mark. As many as 21,615 samples were tested in the last 24hours, taking the number of tests done so far to 34,75,744, the official said. At least 888 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, raising the number of recoveries to 3,13,346, he said. This leaves the city with 11,379 active cases, he said, adding that the average growth rate of infections in the city has increased to 0.32 per cent from 0.17 per cent onFebruary 18. The average doubling rate has come down to 215 days from 417 days, he said. The city currently has 25 containment zones in slumsand chawls, while 229 buildings have been sealed, he added. (PTI)

Total cases: 22,52,057
Total recoveries 20,99,207
Death toll 52,610
Active cases 99,008

Total cases: 9,56,801
Total recoveries: 9,36,947
Death toll: 12,379
Active cases: 7,456

Chief Electoral Officer of Puducherry Shurbir Singh got vaccinated against COVID-19 at the GovernmentGeneral Hospital. Later, he appealed to the staff drafted for election duty and also to the frontline workers to receive the vaccination as a preventive measure and ensure a safeelection which would take place on April 6. The territorial administration, a press release said,has taken measures to see to it that the election will be conducted in the safest manner and in strict compliance with COVID-19 norms. (PTI)

Jammu and Kashmir recorded 97 new COVID-19 cases and three fatalities on Wednesday, taking the infection tally to 1,27,288 and the death toll to 1,968, officials said. Sixteen of the new cases were from the Jammu division and the rest from Kashmir division, they said.The officials said Srinagar district recorded the highest number of 46 new cases, followed by 16 in Baramulla and 12 in Jammu district. While six districts did not report any fresh cases, 11 others reported new cases in single digits.The number of active cases stands at 899 in the union territory, while 1,24,421 patients have recovered so far, the officials said. (PTI)

Public schools across Puerto Rico reopened Wednesday for the first time in nearly a year despite the pandemic, with officials reporting scarce attendance amid COVID-19 concerns. (Reuters)

The Railways' revenue shortfall in the last three years has been primarily due to a drop in originating passengers, less loading, "very low" growth in other coaching revenue and the coronavirus pandemic, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday. Responding to a query in Lok Sabha, Goyal said in 2020-21, to the end of January 2021, total traffic revenue declined by Rs 36,918.86 crore compared to the corresponding period last year due to the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the consequential lockdown and partial operation of passenger services.

2,475 new coronavirus cases in Kerala, tally 10.84 lakh, active cases 35,418; toll 4,342 with 14 more deaths: Health Minister K K Shailaja. (PTI)

West Bank Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh is appealing to the international community to deliver promised vaccines against COVID-19. His office says the prime minister on Tuesday urged friendly countries and companies, as well as the World Health Organization, to fulfill their obligations to us. Shtayyeh says U.N. deliveries expected this month through COVAX, the WHO-backed program to assist poorer nations, are now delayed. (PTI)

Goa's COVID-19 tally reached 55,607, after 69 persons tested positive for the infection on 55,607, after 69 persons tested positive for the infection on Wednesday, an official from the health department said. (PTI)

In view of the coronavirus pandemic, not more than 50 persons should be present in a temple at a time during the Mahashivratri celebration on Thursday, the Maharashtra government has said. The government on Wednesday came out with guidelines for the celebration of the festival. People should not crowd temples and instead offer prayers at home, the guidelines said.Temple management should ensure that the premises are disinfected and COVID-19 safety protocol including socialdistancing and use of masks is followed, the government said.