Coronavirus News Highlights: Today is the 350th day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. So far, India has recorded 1,12,62,707 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 1,58,063 deaths. A total of 1,09,20,046 people have recuperated from COVID-19 so far. There are 1,84,598 active cases in the country as of date, which comprises 1.64 percent of the total caseload, the data stated. India's recovery rate continues to rise and now stands at 96.96 percent. Globally, more than 11.72 crore people have been infected by the coronavirus and 27.28 lakh have died so far. India has begun the second phase of the vaccination drive in which everyone above 60 years of age and those over 45 years with comorbidities will be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine. India's regulator has granted restricted emergency use approval for two vaccines -- Covishield and Covaxin. The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India has crossed 2.40 crore, according to the Union Health Ministry.
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Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Mumbai records 1,539 new COVID-19 cases, highest since Oct
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)
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Maharashtra reports 13,659 new COVID19 cases, 9,913 discharges and 54 deaths in the last 24 hours
Total cases: 22,52,057
Total recoveries 20,99,207
Death toll 52,610
Active cases 99,008
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Karnataka reports 760 new COVID19 cases, 331 recoveries and 6 deaths in the last 24 hours
Total cases: 9,56,801
Total recoveries: 9,36,947
Death toll: 12,379
Active cases: 7,456
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Chief Electoral Officer of Puducherry gets vaccinated against COVID-19
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)
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | J-K reports 97 new COVID-19 cases, three deaths
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)
Coronavirus World LIVE Updates |
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)
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
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.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
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)
Coronavirus World LIVE Updates |
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)
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates |
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)
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | No crowding allowed in temples on Mahashivratri: Maha govt
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.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Private centers for COVID19 vaccination in BMC limits are allowed to operate 24×7
"The Centre has approved BMC's proposal in this regard. BMC has requested Center to do necessary changes to its vaccination registration website to facilitate this. After Centre's approval for 24×7 vaccination at private centers, BMC aims for around 1 lakh vaccination every day. With current timing of 8-12 hour shifts for vaccination around 35,000-40,000 people are getting vaccinated every day", says BMC.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Andhra Pradesh reports 120 new COVID-19 cases, 93 recoveries, and one death in the last 24 hours
Total cases: 8,91,004
Total recoveries: 8,82,763
Active cases: 1,064
Death toll: 7,177
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | BMC tightens Covid norm implementation in Mumbai
"There will be police cases against those who skip home quarantine.Buildings with over 5 cases will have to declare flats with covid patients, on notice boards. Those who flout home quarantine norms will be compulsorily shifted to institutional quarantine. Over 90 per cent of the covid cases in high rises and buildings", says BMC.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Delhi reports 370 new COVID19 cases, 279 recoveries, and 3 deaths in the last 24 hours
Total cases: 6,42,030
Total recoveries: 6,29,199
Death toll: 10,931
Active cases: 1,900
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | 6 states account for over 80% of fresh COVID-19 cases
Six states -- Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu -- accounted for 83.76 per cent of the17,921 cases of COVID-19 reported in the country in a day, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.India's tally of active COVID-19 cases stood at 1.84 lakh and comprised 1.64 per cent of the total infections, according to the ministry's data.
The total number of tests conducted in India so far has crossed 22 crore and the daily positivity rate stood at 2.43 per cent. Maharashtra continued to report the highest daily new cases at 9,927, followed by Kerala with 2,316 cases and Punjab 1,027 fresh instances of the infection.According to the ministry, 133 deaths were reported in a day, with five states accounting for 77.44 per cent of the fatalities.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | 103-year-old Karnataka resident, J Kameshwari, becomes oldest woman to get COVID-19 vaccine
Bengaluru's J Kameshwari, a 103-year-old woman became the oldest woman in India to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. She received the jab at Apollo Hospital in Bannerghatta Road on March 10.
"J Kameshwari received her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Bengaluru on Tuesday (March 10). With this, she became the oldest woman in India to have received the COVID19 vaccine as per available data," ANI quoted Apollo Hospitals saying.The 103-year-old was accompanied by her 77-year-old son Prasad Rao who was also administered the vaccine. Click here to read more...
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Higher airborne pollen levels linked with increased COVID-19 risk: Study
Higher concentration of airborne pollen is associated with increased novel coronavirus infection rates, according to a study that used data from 31 countries across five continents. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen in Germany noted that people in high-risk groups can protect themselves by watching pollen forecasts and wearing dust filter masks.
The team collected data on airborne pollen concentrations, weather conditions and SARS-CoV-2 infections, taking into consideration the variation of infection rates from one day to another, and the total number of positive tests. The researchers also included data on population density and the effects of lockdown measures. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analysed pollen data from 130 stations in 31 countries on five continents.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Pakistan to shut down educational institutions for two weeks in worst-hit cities
Pakistan announced on Wednesday that all educational institutions in cities worst hit due to the coronavirus pandemic will be closed down from March 15 for two weeks due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood announced the decision while addressing the media alongside Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Faisal Sultan after the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) reviewed the coronavirus situation at educational institutions.
Mahmood said institutions will be closed in seven cities of Punjab province, including Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Gujarat, Multan, Rawalpindi and Sialkot. He said educational institutions in Islamabad, Peshawar and Muzaffarabad will also be closed.All educational institutions will remain closed from March 15 to March 28 in specified cities and districts. Half of the students will keep attending classes in other districts, Mahmood said.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates |
Two deaths, 189 new COVID-19 cases in TelanganaTelangana witnessed a slightincrease in its daily coronavirus cases with 189 new additions, highest in a fortnight. The total positives in the state surged past 3 lakh with the addition of 189 infections, a state government bulletin said on Wednesday, providing details as of 8 PM on March 9.Two more COVID-19 patients died, taking the toll to 1,646, it said.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 34, followed by Rangareddy and Medchal Malkajgiri districts with 15 and 12 cases respectively.The bulletin said 176 people recovered from the infection on March 9 and the cumulative recovered cases stood at
2,96,916.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Central observer for Assam polls tests positive for COVID-19
A central observer of the ElectionCommission of India (ECI) for Assam polls has tested positivefor COVID-19 after his arrival in Jorhat district, a senior official said on Wednesday.Jorhat Deputy Commissinoer Roshni Aparanji Korati said the ECI appointed general observer Manjeet Singh Brar tested positive on Tuesday on arrival in the district.
"He is stable and under home isolation at one of his friend's place. A medical team is monitoring his healthparameters and there is nothing to worry about," she added.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | India to send 45 million doses of made-in-India vaccines to Pakistan
India is likely to send 45 million doses of Made-in-India vaccines to Pakistan under an agreement with GAVI alliance. The GAVI Alliance (formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) is a global health partnership dedicated to providing "immunisation for all".
Of the 45 million, 16 million vaccine doses will be sent by June this year. Click here to read more
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | 24 new coronavirus cases in Puducherry, tally inches closer to 40,000 mark
With the addition of 24 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours,the overall caseload climbed to 39,932.The 24 new cases identified at the end of examination of 1,408 samples were spread over Puducherry (14), Karaikal (4) and Mahe (6).Twenty- seven patients were discharged from hospitals
during last twenty- four hours, Director of Health and Family Welfare services S Mohan Kumar said.
No fresh fatality was reported during the last twenty-four hours from any of the four regions of Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam, he said and added that the toll remained 670.The fatality and recovery rates were 1.68 percent and 97.87 percent respectively.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Two new cases push Mizoram's COVID-19 tally to 4,434
Mizoram's COVID-19 tally rose to4,434 on Wednesday as two more persons tested positive for the infection, a health department official said. The new cases were reported from Aizawl and Saitual districts, he said. "One patient was diagnosed with the disease after he returned from Manipur and another tested positive for the disease at a private hospital in Aizawl. They were asymptomatic, the official said.
The state now has nine active cases, while 4,415 people have recovered from the disease and 10 patients succumbed to the infection.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | No new COVID-19 case in Arunachal for four days
ArunachalPradesh did notreport any fresh COVID-19 case in the past four days, a healthdepartment official said on Wednesday.The total caseload in the northeastern state remainedat 16,839, he said.ArunachalPradesh now has three active cases, while16,780 people have recovered from the disease, StateSurveillance Officer DrLobsangJampasaid.
The recovery rate among coronavirus patients in thestate stands at 99.64 per cent.Fifty-six people have succumbed to the infection.Altogether, 4,08,728 samples have been tested forCOVID-19, including 276 on Tuesday,Jampasaid. (PTI)
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Maharashtra: 707 new COVID-19 cases in Thane, 6 more deaths
Thane has reported 707 new casesof coronavirus, raising the tally in the Maharashtra district to 2,71,161, an official said on Wednesday. These new cases were reported on Tuesday, he said. The virus also claimed the lives of six more persons, pushing the death toll in the district to 6,312, he said.
The COVID-19 mortality rate in Thane is 2.33 percent, he said. So far, 2,57,521 patients have recuperated from the infection in the district, which reflects a recovery rate of 94.97 percent. (PTI)
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | India records 17,921 new COVID-19 cases, 133 related deaths
India's COVID-19 tally rose to 1,12,62,707 with 17,921 fresh cases being reported in a day, while the recoveries surpassed 1.09 crore, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.The death toll increased to 1,58,063 with 133 new fatalities, according to the ministry data updated at 8 am.
The number of active cases reduced to 1,84,598 which now comprises1.64per cent of the infection count. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,09,20,046, which translates to a national COVID-19 recovery rate of 96.96 per cent, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.40 per cent, the data stated. (PTI)
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Two new COVID-19 cases in Andamans; tally at 5,028
Two more persons have testedpositive for COVID-19 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, taking the tally in the Union Territory to 5,028, a health departmentofficial said on Wednesday. The fresh cases were detected during contact tracing, he said. The death toll remained at 62 as no new fatality due to the infection was reported in the last 24 hours.
One person was cured of the disease on Tuesday, taking the total number of recoveries in the archipelago to 4,958, the official said. The Union Territory now has eight active cases. Altogether, 10,164 health and frontline workers have been vaccinated, he said. (PTI)
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | WTO boss seeks boost for COVID-19 vaccine production, gets backing
The World Trade Organization's chief on Tuesday called for action on boosting COVID-19 vaccine production in developing countries as several members of the global trade watchdog urged her to hold urgent talks with manufacturers to do so. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian finance minister who was until recently chair of the board of global vaccine alliance GAVI, took on the top job at the global trade watchdog last week.
She has said health and vaccine access would be a top priority. "The fact is that each additional day the vaccine shortage continues, people will pay with their lives," Okonjo-Iweala said at a two-day summit focused on COVID-19 vaccine production, adding that around 130 countries were still waiting for vaccines. (Reuters)
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Rajasthan minister alleges shortage of COVID-19 vaccine doses; Centre refutes claims
Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma's remarks that the state is left with only two days of coronavirus vaccine sparked a controversy on Tuesday, with the Centre denying the claim.We have the (COVID) vaccine for two days, if we do not get more vaccines soon, the vaccination drive will stop mid-way. Today, 85,000 doses have been sent to Udaipur and 6.78 lakh more is expected, Sharma said.
The minister asserted that the Centre should provide buffer stock to the state. The Ministry of Health, however, clarified that there is no shortage of COVID-19 vaccines in Rajasthan. "There have been some news reports suggesting impending shortage of COVID-19 vaccine doses in Rajasthan. The factual position is that there is no shortage of COVID-19 vaccine with the state at present. Rajasthan has been supplied 37.61 lakh doses and has consumed only 24.28 lakh doses till yesterday night," it said in an official release on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot stood by Sharma's remarks and said the state was facing shortage of vaccine doses.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | White House: States to get 900K more vaccine doses this week
The U.S. is making an additional 900,000 doses of Pfizer andModernavaccines available to states and pharmacy partners this week. White House press secretary JenPsakiannounced that states and territories will receive 15.8 million doses of the two-shot vaccines, up from 15.2 million last week. Another 2.7 million doses will be distributed through the federal pharmacy program this week.Last week, President Joe Biden directed the pharmacy program to prioritize teachers and childcare workers.Psakisays the U.S. is now delivering an average of 2.17 million doses per day.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Assam reports 2 more COVID-19 deaths, 22 fresh cases
Two more persons died due toCOVID-19 in Assam on Tuesday, increasing the death toll to 1,096, while 22 new positive cases took the total caseload to 2,17,704, according to a bulletin issued by the National Health Mission. Altogether 27,690 beneficiaries were administered COVID-19 vaccines during the day taking the total number of people who received the jab to 4,67,447.
A total number of 961 people with comorbidities, 5,867 senior citizens and 14,495 health care workers and front-line workers got the first dose of vaccine. The second dose of the vaccine was received by 6,367 health care and front line workers. While 1,096 people have lost their lives due to coronavirus, 1,347 COVID positive patients have died for other reasons. The number of active cases in the state currently is 282.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Odisha logs 57 new COVID-19 cases
Odisha's COVID-19 tallymounted to 3,37,860 on Tuesday as 57 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.The state also registered the recovery of 82 patients taking the total number of cured people to 3,35,250 which is 99.22 per cent of the caseload.Thirty-four of the new cases were reported from quarantine centres, while 23 infections were detected during contact tracing.
The state's COVID-19 death toll remained unchanged at 1,917 as no fresh fatality was reported. Fifty-three coronavirus patients have died due to comorbidities so far.Odisha now has 640 active cases, which is 0.18 percent of the caseload.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | 2.40 crore people vaccinated against COVID-19 in country: Health Ministry
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 2.40 crore with 10,28,911 people being given jabs till Tuesday evening, the Union Health Ministry said.A total of 10,28,911 vaccine doses were given till 7 pm on Tuesday, the 53rd day of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive.
During the day, 7,98,354 beneficiaries took their first dose and 2,30,557 healthcare workers (HCWS) and frontline workers (FLWs) received their second dose of the vaccine as per the provisional report, the ministry said, adding final reports would be completed for the day by night. The 7,98,354 beneficiaries who got the first dose include 5,51,398 beneficiaries aged over 60 and 98,478 aged between45-60 with specified comorbidities, according to the data.
More than two million COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered onMarch 8, the highest in a day so far. Cumulatively, 2,40,37,644 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the country so far, according to the provisional report till 7 pm.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates | Global daily statistics
COVID-19 infections are still rising in 61 countries. There have been at least 117,287,000 reported infections and 2,728,000 reported deaths caused by the new coronavirus so far.
Hello and welcome to Moneycontrol’s LIVE coverage of the novel coronavirus pandemic and its socio-economic impact.
The COVID-19 outbreak has spread across 192 countries and territories. Today is the 350th day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown.
Stay tuned to this LIVE blog for the latest updates throughout the day.
