Coronavirus Latest Updates: The Gujarat government on Sunday said permission won’t be granted for Holi celebrations due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in the state through the religious ritual of ‘Holika Dahan’ associated with the festival can take place with crowd restrictions. More than 6 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been sent to 76 nations, while 4.5 crore doses have been administered to beneficiaries in the country till now, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday. Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the Rajasthan government has decided to impose night curfew in eight cities from Monday and also made it mandatory for people visiting the state to carry a COVID-19 negative test report. The Chattisgarh government has decided to shut Schools, Colleges and Anganwadi Centers across the state amid rising cases of COVID 19, reports ANI. India saw 43,846 new coronavirus infections in a day, the highest single-day rise recorded so far this year, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 1,15,99,130, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Sunday said the second wave of coronavirus has begun and sought people’s cooperation to contain the disease. Noting that there is a potential of an upsurge in COVID-19 cases during the Kumbh Mela, the Centre has written to Uttarakhand strongly highlighting the concerns raised by a high-level central team about the need for stringent measures to control the spread of the disease. “Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla tested positive for COVID-19 on 19 March. He was admitted to AIIMS COVID Centre for observation on 20 March. He is stable,” reports ANI quoting a statement from AIIMS, Delhi. Citing provisional reports till 7 am on Sunday, the Union health ministry said that over 4.4 cr (4,46,03,841) COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered through 7,25,138 sessions. Some states in the country are noticing a spike in the daily new cases, said the Union health ministry, adding that Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh account for 77.7 percent of the new cases in last 24 hours. “83.14 percent of the new cases are from six states,” the ministry said. Single-day spike of 43,846 new COVID-19 cases, 197 fatalities push COVID-19 case count in India to 1,15,99,130 and toll to 1,59,755, reports news agency PTI. According to the Union health ministry’s data updated at 8 am, 22,956 persons recuperated from the disease in 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 1,11,30,288. Active cases rose by 20,693 to 3,09,087 and constitute 2.66 percent of the total cases. Holding the laxity shown by people in following safety protocols as the reason behind the recent surge in coronavirus cases, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday urged them not to let their guard down against the infection, else the situation may turn “dangerous”. “With vaccines available now, people feel they should not wear masks. Maximum people hang their masks around their neck, some keep it in their pocket and some do not use it at all,” the minister said on Saturday evening. COVID-19 cases have again started rising at some places in the country for the past some time and the laxity shown by people towards the infection is the basic reason behind it, Vardhan said, adding that the situation may turn “dangerous”. “I want to appeal to people of the country that they should not let the COVID appropriate behaviour get weakened at any cost. Maintaining social distancing, wearing masks properly and washing hands with soap probably are the biggest tools to win the fight against COVID-19,” said Vardhan. The Union health minister further said the two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, which had been made available in the country are the second tool in this fight against contagion. He also said there was no need for vaccination for all from the scientific point of view while asserting that the two vaccines developed in the country are completely safe and effective. The vaccination drive should also be turned into a mass movement, he said, adding that the vaccines are available at 50,000 government and private health facilities in the country. The Union health minister said the priority groups have been set after keeping in the mind the scientific criteria and studying the behaviour of COVID-19. “You know that the behaviour of COVID virus is dynamic and the vaccination process is also dynamic. Under this dynamic process, the criteria will be expanded as and when the time requires,” he said. Asserting that saving lives is a priority for the government, the minister said Rs 35,000 crores had been earmarked in the Union Budget for the COVID-19 vaccination. While expressing concern over the rise in cases in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula, Vardhan said there was no doubt that coronavirus cases were rising in six to seven states, including Punjab and Maharashtra, and stressed that these states should be more careful. He also said sequencing of the virus and its mutants was going on and one of the two vaccines was also effective against mutants. Earlier, addressing a gathering to mark World Oral Health Day, Vardhan said the premier institutes like PGIMER have a bigger responsibility of mentoring and hand-holding, of creating successful models which contribute towards the ultimate goal of ‘health for all.’ “The year 2020 may go down in history as the ‘Year of COVID’, but it will also be remembered as the ‘Year of Scientific Community’. “The way our medical professionals and scientific community rose to the occasion, and even after one year still fighting without any trace of fatigue, thereby successfully managing the pandemic in a country of 1.3 billion, is a testimony that we have the DNA, sincerity, commitment and passion to accomplish the vision of good quality health for everyone,” he said. Complimenting PGIMER for its initiatives, the minister stated that the state-of-art facilities and equipment inaugurated are a major step forward in healthcare innovation and will go a long way in addressing the healthcare needs of the community of the region. Vardhan also inaugurated a national resource centre for oral health care of children and elderly, an advanced PET-CT facility, 384 slice dual-source CT scan and a refractive surgery suite at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.
Coronavirus Updates: No Holi celebrations, only 'Holika Dahan' allowed, says Gujarat Deputy CM after state reports surge in cases
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: The govt will only allow ‘Holika Dahan’, a pyre lighting ritual symbolizing the victory of good over evil on the eve of Holi, that too with a limited number of people in housing societies and villages, said deputy CM Nitin Patel read more
 "Coronavirus Updates: No Holi celebrations, only 'Holika Dahan' allowed, says Gujarat Deputy CM after state reports surge in cases")
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
No Holi celebrations, only ‘Holika Dahan’ allowed, says Gujarat Deputy CM
The Gujarat government on Sunday said permission won’t be granted for Holi celebrations due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in the state though the religious ritual of ‘Holika Dahan’ associated with the festival can take place with crowd restrictions. Holi falls on March 29 and Holika Dahan on its eve on March 28. The government will only allow ‘Holika Dahan’, a pyre lighting ritual symbolizing the victory of good over evil on the eve of Holi, that too with a limited number of people in housing societies and villages, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
1,875 fresh COVID-19 cases in Kerala, 13 additional deaths
Kerala recorded 1,875 coronavirus cases on Sunday, taking the total infections to11.04 lakh, the state government said. As many as 2,251 people have been cured of the infection and total recoveries have gone up to 10,74,805.
The total infection caseload mounted to 11,04,577, health minister, K K Shailaja said. In the last 24 hours ending 2 pm, 44,675 samples have been tested and the test positivity rate was 4.2 per cent. Kozhikode accounted for 241 cases, Kannur 182, Thrissur 173 , Kollam 158 and Thiruvananthapuram 155.
So far, 1.26 crore samples have been sent for testing. The toll has climbed to 4,495 with 13 recent deaths being added, the minister said.
Of the total cases, five are health workers, 58 had come from outside the state and 1,671 had been infected through contact. At least 1,28,237 are presently under observation,including 3,728 in hospitals. .
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
39 students test positive in Sabarkantha hostel in Gujarat
Thirty-nine students staying in a hostel in Gujarat’s Sabarkantha district on Sunday tested positive for coronavirus, a senior health official said. The group, comprising 20 boys and 19 girls, of a hostel run by Sahyog Kushtha Yagna Trust, were detected with the infection a day after 292 students were tested, said Sabarkantha Epidemic Medical Officer Chirag Modi, reports PTI.
“Most of those who tested positive are without symptoms and have been taken home by their parents. Some of them are admitted in a hospital,” he said. “Two days ago a hostel warden tested positive after which we decided to get the students tested and 39 reports returned positive,” said Suresh Soni, coordinator of SahyogTrust.
Sabarkantha has so far reported 3,281 cases and 3,191recoveries.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
COVID-19: BJP workers not infected as they work hard, says MLA
A Gujarat BJP MLA on Sunday said workers of his party do not get infected with novel coronavirus since they work hard. Rajkot (South) legislator Govind Patel’s take on coronavirus came after reporters asked him if the flouting of guidelines by political leaders and workers during poll campaigning was resulting in a spike in cases, reports PTI.
“Those who work hard do not get coronavirus infection.BJP workers work hard, and therefore, not a single worker hasbeen infected with the virus,” Patel claimed.
Incidentally, during the campaigning for the local bodies polls last month, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupaniwas detected with the infection, and among others in the ruling party who have tested positive at different points of time include state unit chief CR Patil and several MLAs. On Saturday, Vadodara BJP MP Ranjanben Bhatt had announced that she was admitted in the hospital for COVID-19.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
368 new COVID-19 cases in AP, total touches 8.93 lakh
The surge in COVID-19 cases continued in Andhra Pradesh as 368 were added afresh from31,138 tests on Sunday, taking the gross-up to 8.93 lakh. The latest bulletin said 263 patients had recovered and none succumbed in 24 hours ending 9 am on Sunday.
The number of active cases increased to 2,188 after a total of 8,84,357 recoveries and 7,189 deaths so far. Guntur topped the chart adding 79 new cases in a day, followed by Kurnool 49, Anantapuramu and Chittoor 40 each, Visakhapatnam 39, Krishna 37, East Godavari and SPS Nellore 20each, Srikakulam and Kadapa 10 each.
Vizianagaram and West Godavari reported nine fresh cases each and Prakasam six, according to the bulletin.
-PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Night curfew in 8 cities from Monday in Rajasthan; visitors told to carry COVID negative report
Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the Rajasthan government has decided to impose night curfew in eight cities from Monday and also made it mandatory for people visiting the state to carry a COVID-19 negative test report.
Officials said the night curfew will be imposed in Ajmer, Bhilwara, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur, Sagwada (Dungarpur) and Kushalgarh (Banswara) from 11 pm to 5 am, reports PTI. The decisions were taken during a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
It was decided that travellers coming to Rajasthan from other states will have to carry RT-PCR negative reports (not older than 72 hours) from March 25, officials said.
If the RT-PCR test report of travellers are not negative, they would have to remain in quarantine for 15 days, officials said.
It was also decided that markets in urban local bodies will close by 10 pm.
Rajasthan on Saturday reported 445 fresh coronavirus cases, which pushed the state’s infection count to 3,24,948, according to an official report.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Vaccines are answer, not one-day lockdowns: Omar Abdullah
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah Sunday said one-day shutdowns to contain the spread of coronavirus is a “meaningless tokenism” which can lead to complacency and called for allowing more people to take vaccine against COVID-19.
The Madhya Pradesh government had on March 19 announced Sunday lockdowns in Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur till further orders in view of the spurt in coronavirus cases.
“With a rampaging virus that has a 2-14 day incubation period this one-day lockdown is meaningless tokenism. All it will do is create a misplaced sense of complacency,” Abdullah tweeted.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said vaccines were the answer to the spread of COVID-19 and called for opening up the vaccines to more people.
With a rampaging virus that has a 2-14 day incubation period this one day lockdown is meaningless tokenism. All it will do is create a misplaced sense of complacency. Vaccines are the answer not one day lockdowns. Open up vaccines to more people. https://t.co/JMGMRihDga
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) March 21, 2021
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
A person cannot donate blood for 28 days after taking last jab of COVID vaccine, says NBTC order
A recent order by the National Blood Transfusion Council has said that a person cannot donate blood for the next 28 days after taking the last dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
As approved in the 30th meeting of the governing body of the NBTC held on 17 February, the deferral criteria for blood donation post COVID-19 vaccine was finalised as “28 days post vaccination deferral after the last dose of COVID-19 vaccination irrespective of the type of the vaccine received”, reports PTI.
The order implies that the donor has to wait for 28 days after taking second dose of the vaccine, which means that he or she cannot donate for 56 days after taking the first jab. The order was issued by NBTC director Dr Sunil Gupta on 5 March.
According to the Union Health Ministry, two doses of the vaccine need to be taken by an individual 28 days apart to complete the immunisation schedule.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
6 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses sent to 76 nations: Harsh Vardhan
More than 6 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been sent to 76 nations, while 4.5 crore doses have been administered to beneficiaries in the country till now, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday. He also called for making the vaccination drive a Jan Aandolan (mass movement).
Until this morning, nearly 4.5 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been given to the people in this country. More than six crore doses have been sent to 76 nations, Vardhan said during a media interaction at the Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTECH) here.
Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party (BJP) president J P Nadda have called for making the vaccination drive a ‘jan andolan’ (mass movement)," he said.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Goa govt warns of action against hotels if found flouting COVID-19 norms
The Goa government will take strict action against restaurants, hotels or entertainment zones, if they are found not adhering to COVID-19 norms, a state minister said on Sunday, report PTI. Wearing a mask and maintaining social-distancing is a must for all to avoid the spread of the virus, he said.
“The state government will take a strict view on the functioning of restaurants, hotels and any place considered as an entertainment zone to ensure that people coming there strictly follow the coronavirus protocols,” Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said.
“If these establishments fail to do so, the health authorities will take strict action against them,” he added.
If people find any restaurant, hotel, institution violating the rules, they can e-mail the information about it to- officeoftheministergoa@gmail.com- following which necessary action would be initiated by the government, he said
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Chhattisgarh schools, colleges and anganwadi centers to remain shut
The Chattisgarh government has decided to shut Schools, Colleges and Anganwadi Centers across the state amid rising cases of COVID 19, reports ANI The state government has announced an order on 21 March, 2021, to close schools and colleges till further notice. The State School education minister, Dr Premasai Singh Tekam, said that the online exam decision is not yet clear, according to Times Now.
Schools, colleges and Anganwadi will be closed in Chhattisgarh with immediate effect: Chhattisgarh Minister Ravindra Choubey#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/arRPy8svd2
— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2021
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
With medical team around, 4 COVID-19 patients answer MP exam
Four coronavirus positive persons on Sunday answered a Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission exam at a special centre for them with a team of two doctors and an equal number of nurses in PPE kits donning the role of invigilators, an official said.
The four candidates wrote the test at Mata Jija Bai Government Post Graduate Girls College in Moti Tabela area here and all outbreak norms were adhered to strictly, with a medical team of four in place for any assistance, COVID -19 Nodal Officer Amit Malakar told PTI.
Another official said the separate centre at Mata Jija Bai College will be used for COVID-19 patients answering the MPPSC final tests that started here on Sunday and will go on till 26 March.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Pandemic under check in Andamans, says official
The coronavirus pandemic is under control in Andaman and Nicobar Islands as tourists are required to furnish COVID negative reports from their respective states or Union territories to enter the archipelago, a senior health official told PTI on Sunday.
Deputy Director (Health) and nodal officer for COVID- 19, Dr Avijit Roy, said that the Union territory administration is ensuring strict adherence to the safety guidelines. “It is compulsory for tourists to produce COVID negative reports from their native places to enter the islands. The archipelago has not reported a single coronavirus fatality in the last six months,” he said.
Even islanders have to produce COVID negative certificates to visit any other island than the one they live in, the health official said. A few cases are being reported during contact tracing, the health official said.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
India reports highest single-day spike this year with 43,846 new cases
India saw 43,846 new coronavirus infections in a day, the highest single-day rise recorded so far this year, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 1,15,99,130, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.
Registering an increase for the 11th day in a row, the total active caseload has increased to 3,09,087, which now comprises 2.66 per cent of the total infections, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 95.96 per cent, the data stated.
The daily rise in infections was the highest recorded in 115 days. The death toll increased to 1,59,755 with 197 daily new fatalities, the highest in 97 days, the data updated at 8 am showed.
As many as 44,489 new infections were recorded in a span of 24 hours on 26 November.
-PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Odisha reports 98 new COVID-19 cases, tally at 3,38,817
Odisha’s COVID-19 tally on Sunday surged to 3,38,817 after 98 more people tested positive for the infection, while one more fatality, after a gap of eight days, pushed the state’s coronavirus death toll to 1,919, a health department official told PTI.
Of the new cases, 58 were reported from different quarantine centres, while 40 fresh infections were detected during contact tracing.
Khurda district reported the highest number of new cases at 15, followed by Cuttack (9) and Mayurbhanj (8), he said.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
COVID-19 vaccination timings for unregistered beneficiaries increased by four hours: Jain
Unregistered but eligible people in Delhi will be able to take COVID-19 vaccine jabs between 3 pm and 9 pm, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Sunday. Till now, unregistered beneficiaries were being inoculated between 3 pm and 5pm, he said.
Beneficiaries need to register themselves on Co-WIN portal to get jabs. Those who do not have access to the Co-WIN portal can go to the centre and take COVID-19 vaccines.
Only registered beneficiaries will be given vaccine shots between 9 am and 3 pm. The unregistered ones can take the jabs from 3 pm to 9 pm They just need to carry their Aadhaar card or any other valid identity proof, Jain said.
It has also been directed that all Delhi government hospitals increase the number of vaccination sites on their premises to at least six and depute two vaccinators at each, he said.
-PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Faster spread of some coronavirus variants could be due to sturdier protein, say scientists
The spike protein of the novel coronavirus, which enables it to infect human cells, is more stable in faster spreading versions of the virus, such as the ones first reported in the UK and South Africa, compared to the original form of the pathogen from Wuhan, China, says a new study.
Researchers, including those from the Boston Children’s Hospital in the US assessed the structure of the coronavirus spike protein down to the atomic level, and found how it changed with the D614G mutation which is carried by the Brazil, South Africa and UK variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Change in people’s attitude main reason for COVID-19 surge, says Randeep Guleria
According to experts, the biggest reason for the surge in coronavirus cases in the country is that people feel the pandemic is over and they are not following COVID-appropriate behaviour. “There are multiple reasons for the surge, but the main reason is that there is change in people’s attitude and they feel coronavirus is over. People should still restrict non-essential travel for some more time,” AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said. Dr VK Paul, NITI Aayog member (Health) said to remain free of this virus, it is very important that COVID-appropriate behaviour, containment strategy, readiness from the health infrastructure point of view as well as vaccination has to be brought in to fight the pandemic. He advised that in districts where COVID-19 cases are seemingly on the rise, vaccination of eligible individuals should be intensified and prioritised.
PTI
Japan PM vows no virus rebound as emergency measures end
Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga pledged on Sunday to do his utmost to prevent a resurgence of the coronavirus ahead of the Olympic torch relay and his upcoming visit to Washington. Suga was addressing his ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s annual convention, just hours ahead of the planned lifting of a virus state of emergency in the the Tokyo region. Suga said after the state of emergency is lifted is “an extremely important time” for virus prevention. “We must not put our guards down … to prevent the infections from rebounding,” he said.
Suga on Thursday announced that the monthslong emergency measures for Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama would end at midnight Sunday, a move underscoring his government’s eagerness to minimize burdens on businesses and keep the economy going, despite concerns raised by experts about the potential for an upsurge.The lifting of the measure comes just days before the Olympic torch relay starts from Fukushima, northeast of Tokyo and the site of the 2011 nuclear crisis, as a symbol of reconstruction.
AP
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Puducherry’s case count climbs to 40, 386 with 64 new infections
The COVID-19 cases registered a marginal rise in the Union Territory of Puducherry on Sunday with 64 infections being reported, taking the tally to 40,386, the health department said. One more fatality took the toll to 675.The UT had reported 60 cases on Saturday. A total of 1,238 samples were tested in the last 24 hours ending at 10 am and the cumulative number of specimens examined so far was 6.06 lakh, Health and Family Welfare Services Director S Mohan Kumar said in a release. There were 395 active cases after recovery of 23 patients during this period. In all, 39,316 people have recovered from the disease so far in the Union Territory. Puducherry region accounted for the maximum of 40 cases, Karaikal had 19, Mahe (4) and Yanam (1).
PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Puducherry LG flags of mobile unit to create awareness about COVID-19
Lt Governor of Puducherry Tamilisai Soundararajan on Sunday flagged off a mobile unit of the health department in neighbouring Muthialpet to generate awareness about steps to be taken to keep COVID-19 at bay. She also declared open a booth that would distribute masks, sanitisers and hand gloves to the people. The LG helped some people wear masks. “It is through nose and mouth does the virus get into our body and hence proper wearing of face mask is necessary` she told a woman, correcting the position of the mask. She also urged the people not to lower their guard against COVID-19 or panic about the pandemic, which could be prevented through preventive measures
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla tests positive
“Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla tested positive for COVID19 on 19 March. He was admitted to AIIMS COVID Centre for observation on 20 March. He is stable,” reports ANI quotinga statement from AIIMS, Delhi.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla tested positive for COVID19 on March 19. He was admitted to AIIMS COVID Centre for observation on March 20. He is stable: AIIMS, Delhi pic.twitter.com/nhook5tr83
— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2021
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Madhya Pradesh CM announces ‘resolution campaign’ on 23 March
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “There is a lockdown today in Bhopal. Indore and Jabalpur. I am worried and this wave of the coronaviurs is spreading very rapidly. According to the reports received till last night, 1,322 new cases were detected in Madhya Pradesh.
The number of daily cases had fallen to 141. Bhopal has reported the highest of 382 cases, he said highlighting that the infection is reading fast and it is necessary to stop it. hence there is a lockdown in three cities. We don’t want to stop economic activities but the rapid spread is worrying, Chouhan said and appealed to people to use use masks as the virus was still in the air.
The chief minister announced a resolution campaign under on 23 March (Tuesday) when a siren will be sounded in all major cities at 11 am. People should stop wherever they are and put on masks and make a resolution to maintain social distancing, Chouhan said.
He also appealed to shop keepers to mark circles in their front of their shops as part of social distancing efforts and announced that he too will step out to mark such circles. the siren will be sounded again at 7 pm for people to ensure that they as well as those around them are wearing masks.
“We have started this campaign because wearing masks is very important. We should become careful before the situation gets out of hand, Chouhan said on Twitter.
आज इंदौर, भोपाल और जबलपुर में लॉकडाउन है। #COVID19 की लहर बहुत तेज़ी से बढ़ रही है। कल 1,332 मामले आये हैं, अनेक ज़िलों में संक्रमण तेज़ी से फैल रहा जिसे रोकना ज़रूरी है।मैं नहीं चाहता कि हम आर्थिक गतिविधियों को बाधित करें,लेकिन कोरोना की बढ़ती रफ्तार मन में चिंता पैदा कर रही है। pic.twitter.com/0iCCEdhWdR
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) March 21, 2021
23 मार्च को शाम को 7 बजे भी दो मिनट के लिए सायरन बजेगा और हम पुनः यह सुनिश्चित करेंगे कि हमने और हमारे आसपास के लोगों ने मास्क लगाया है या नहीं।
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) March 21, 2021
मास्क लगाना बहुत ज़रूरी है, इसलिए यह संकल्प अभियान हम शुरू कर रहे हैं। स्थिति हाथों से बाहर निकले, इसके पहले ही हम संभल जाएँ।
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Telangana records 394 fresh infections,, tally crosses 3.03 lakh
The upward trend in COVID-19 cases in Telangana continued with 394 infections reported, pushing the tally to just above 3.03 lakh, the state government said on Sunday. With three more fatalities, the toll rose to 1,669 as of 8 pm on 20 March, a bulletin said. As many as 194 people were discharged, taking the cumulative recoveries to 2,98,645.
In line with the steady increase in fresh cases over the past 10 days, including clusters in some schools, the active cases rose to 2,804, compared to 1,872 on 12 March. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation reported the maximum of 81 cases followed by Ranga Reddy (64) and Medchal Malkajgiri districts (34).
PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Over 4.46 vaccine doses administered till 7 am, says health ministry
Citing provisional reports till 7 am on Sunday, the Union health ministry said that over 4.4 cr (4,46,03,841) COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered through 7,25,138 sessions. A total of 77,79,985 health care workers have received their first doses while 48,77,356 have also received their second doses, As many as 80,84,311 frontline workers have been administered the first dose of the anti-coronavirus vaccines while 26,01,298 have been administered the second dose. A total of 36,33,473 beneficiaries aged more than 45 years with specific co-morbidities have been given the first dose and 1,76,27,418 beneficiaries aged more than 60 years, the ministry said.
“As on Day-64 of the vaccination drive (20 March, 2021), more than 25 Lakh (25,40,449) vaccine doses were given. Out of which, 22,83,157 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 38,669 sessions for 1st dose (HCWs and FLWs) and 2,57,292 HCWs and FLWs received second dose of vaccine,” the ministry said in a release.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
No COVID-19 deaths reported from 17 states and UTs in last 24 hrs, says health ministry
The Union health ministry said that six states account for 86.8 percent of the 197 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (92), followed Punjab with 38 daily fatalities and Kerala with 15 deaths. “Seventeen states/UTs have not reported any COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours. These are Rajasthan, Assam, Goa, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Jharkhand, Lakshadweep, Sikkim, Puducherry, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Nagaland, Tripura, Ladakh (UT), Manipur, Mizoram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Arunachal Pradesh,” the ministry said in a release.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Six states account for 83.14% new cases, says health ministry
Some states in the country are noticing a spike in the daily new cases, said the Union health ministry, adding that Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh account for 77.7 percent of the new cases in last 24 hours. “83.14 percent of the new cases are from six states,” the ministry said. Maharashtra continues to report the highest daily new cases at 27,126. It is followed by Punjab with 2,578 while Kerala reported 2,078 new cases.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Pakistan imposes travel ban on 12 countries as cases spike
Pakistan imposed a complete ban on travel from 12 countries, including South Africa, Rwanda and Tanzania, in a bid to curb the spike of coronavirus cases as the country on Sunday recorded 3,667 new cases, taking the national tally to 626,802. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) notified a fresh list of countries categorised into A, B and C after emergence of South African and Brazilian strain of the virus and imposed a complete ban on travel from 12 countries, categorised as C. The travel restrictions and a ban on inbound passengers from 12 countries will remain effective from 23 March to 5 April. Botswana, Brazil, Columbia, Comoros, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Peru, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia have been placed in category C.
PTI
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Health ministry advises Uttarakhand govt to follow SOPs
The Union health secretary had also advised the state government to scrupulously follow the SOPs issued by the Union health ministry and display signages to disseminate the main points of these SOPs and increase awareness of self-reporting, especially among local population. The state government has also been advised to set up system for generating early warning signals in areas with susceptible population by monitoring trend of ARI/ ILI cases through Emergency Operational Centres, target significantly enhanced testing in potential high transmission areas and continue periodic testing of frontline workers before and after auspicious snan days of the Kumbh. Other recommendations to the state government includes ensuring operationalization of adequate critical care treatment facilities and effective risk communication for strict adherence to COVID-appropriate behaviour. “In case of surge in cases/super spreader events, promptly send samples for genome sequencing in consultation with NCDC,” the Uttarakhand government was advised.
Health Secretary writes to Uttarakhand about stringent measures for Kumbh Mela
Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to Uttarakhand Chief Secretary strongly highlighting the concerns raised by the high-level central team in its visit to Uttarakhand and about the need for stringent measures to control the spread of COVID-19 during Kumbh Mela, said the Union health ministry in a press release. According to the release, Bhushan also noted that as per the report of the central team, 10-20 pilgrims and 10-20 locals are being reported positive every day. “The state has been informed that daily testing numbers reported in Haridwar are not enough,“the release stated.
“The state has been informed that the daily testing numbers reported in Haridwar (i.e.50,000 Rapid Antigen Tests and 5,000 RTPCR tests) are not enough to effectively offset huge number of expected pilgrim footfall. It has been advised that the share of RTPCR tests being conducted at present needs to be significantly increased as per the ICMR guidelines to ensure that the pilgrims and local population is appropriately tested,” it said.
#Unite2FightCorona
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 21, 2021
Union Health Secretary writes to Chief Secretary #Uttarakhand.
Strongly highlights need for stringent measures to control the spread of #COVID19 during #KumbhMela.https://t.co/zxxMrqSt2h pic.twitter.com/kedzMRSqCO
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No new cases in Arunachal Pradesh in last two days
Arunachal Pradesh did not report any new COVID-19 case in the last two days, a senior health official said on Sunday. The northeastern state’s caseload stands at 16,842, of which three are active cases, while 16,783 people have recovered from the disease and 56 patients have succumbed to the infection so far, State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said. The recovery rate among the coronavirus patients in the state stands at 99.64 percent, he said. The state has so far tested over 4.11 lakh samples for COVID-19, including 234 on Saturday, Jampa said. A total of 61,063 people have been vaccinated in Arunachal Pradesh to date, State Immunisation Officer Dr Dimong Padung said.
PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Streets deserted in Indore during one-day lockdown
Madhya Pradesh: Streets remain deserted as one-day lockdown imposed in Indore as COVID19 cases surge. pic.twitter.com/iecSAtExkA
— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2021
Punjab Police persuade 4,400 face mask violators to undergo COVID-19 test
In view of the surge of COVID-19 in the state, teams of the Punjab Police on Saturday persuaded over 4,400 face-mask violators to undergo RT-PCR testing. As many as 1,800 more people were fined as they were found not wearing face masks, police said. Police also distributed free face masks to over 12,000 people. The move came a day after Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ordered enforcement of face masks in the state. He had directed police and health authorities to take people in public places without face masks to the nearest RT-PCR testing facility to ensure that they were not asymptomatic coronavirus cases.
Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta appealed to people to wear face masks, comply with number limits on social gatherings and avoid crowded places.
Police started a drive to penalise people found violating the safety protocols amid surge in coronavirus cases. They have also collaborated with the mobile health teams in several districts to conduct RT-PCR tests on the spot, Gupta said.
PTI
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Mizoram records one new coronavirus case
Mizoram’s COVID-19 tally rose to 4,447 on Sunday as a 52-year-old man tested positive for the infection, a health official said. The new patient, who hails from Mamit district, tested positive for COVID-19 during screening at the inter-state border with Tripura, he said. The state now has 15 active cases, while 4,421 people have recovered from the disease and 11 patients have succumbed to the infection to date. The recovery rate among coronavirus patients in the state stands at 99.42 percent. The administration has so far tested over 2.46 lakh samples for COVID-19, including 510 on Saturday, the official said.
PTI
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Total vaccinations stand at over 4.46 crore
According to the Union health ministry’s website, total vaccinations in the country stand at 4,46,03,841.
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India records 43,846 new cases, 197 fatalities in 24 hrs
Single-day spike of 43,846 new COVID-19 cases, 197 fatalities push COVID-19 case count in India to 1,15,99,130 and toll to 1,59,755, reports news agency PTI. According to the Union health ministry’s data updated at 8 am, 22,956 persons recuperated from the disease in 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 1,11,30,288. Active cases rose by 20,693 to 3,09,087 and constitute 2.66 percent of the total cases.
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Over 11.3 lakh samples tested on Saturday, says ICMR
A total of 23,35, 65,119 samples have been tested for COVID-19 up to 20 March, of which 11,33,602 were tested on Saturday, according to the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).
COVID-19 Testing Update. For more details visit: https://t.co/dI1pqvXAsZ @MoHFW_INDIA @DeptHealthRes #ICMRFIGHTSCOVID19 #IndiaFightsCOVID19 #CoronaUpdatesInIndia #COVID19 #Unite2FightCorona pic.twitter.com/HlhTEsFQad
— ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) March 21, 2021
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Maharashtra’s Thane district record 1,932 new cases
With the addition of 1,932 coronavirus cases, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra mounted to 2,86,249, an official said on Sunday. These new cases were reported on Saturday, he said. As the virus claimed the life of seven persons, the toll in the district rose to 6,377. The district’s COVID-19 mortality rate is 2.23 percent, he added. So far, 2,65,610 patients have recuperated from the infection and the recovery rate stands at 92.79 percent. There are 14,262 active cases in the district at present, the official said.
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No new COVID-19 cases reported in Andamans
No new COVID-19 case was reported in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Sunday, a health official said. The Union Territory’s caseload stands at 5,038, of
which seven are active cases, while 4,969 people have recovered from the disease and 62 patients have succumbed to the infection so far, he said. The administration has so far tested over 3.02 lakh samples for COVID-19, the official said. A total of 12,374 health workers and frontline personnel have been vaccinated so far, of whom 4,774 have received the second dose. Around 2,606 people above 45 years of age have also been inoculated, he added.
PTI
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Himachal Pradesh limits attendance at social gathering to 50% occupancy
The Himachal Pradesh government has issued instructions to limit attendance at indoor and outdoor gatherings to 50 percent of the occupancy, with a maximum number of 200 for indoor in the social functions. Chief Minister Jairam Thakur said prior permission for holding social gatherings would also be required after two-three days.
Thakur was talking to the media after presiding over a meeting through video conference with the deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and chief medical officers to review the situation of the pandemic in the state. The chief minister stated that all the official fairs in the state would not be organised, but those that are ongoing would continue by adopting the standard operating procedures. The RT-PCR tests will be increased and containment zone approach will be implemented strictly, he added.
PTI
People’s laxity towards COVID-19 main reason behind rise in cases, says Vardhan
Holding the laxity shown by people in following safety protocols as the reason behind the recent surge in coronavirus cases, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday urged them not to let their guard down against the infection, else the situation may turn “dangerous”. “With vaccines available now, people feel they should not wear masks. Maximum people hang their masks around their neck, some keep it in their pocket and some do not use it at all,” the minister said on Saturday evening. COVID-19 cases have again started rising at some places in the country for the past some time and the laxity shown by people towards the infection is the basic reason behind it, Vardhan said, adding that the situation may turn “dangerous”.
PTI
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