Coronavirus LIVE: At 36,902 cases, Maharashtra sees highest one-day spike

Coronavirus live updates: India has registered 59,118 fresh cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, the highest daily count since October 18, 2020

3:47 AM

France reports 41,869 new coronavirus cases

France reported 41,869 new coronavirus cases on Friday, against 45,641 on Thursday and 35,088 a week ago.
 

The number of people in intensive care units with Covid-19 rose by 57 to a 2021 high of 4,766, health ministry data showed.

3:46 AM

Over 800 people fined for not wearing face masks: Police

The Delhi police on Friday fined over 800 people for not wearing face masks at public places amid the rising coronavirus cases in the national capital.
 

Officials said the police have been asked by the Lieutenant Governor to intensify the drive against violations of Covid norms.
 

A police official said 813 challans were issued to people for not wearing face masks while five people were fined for not adhering to the social distancing norm.

A total of 5,70,693 challans have been issued in the national capital since June 15 for violations of anti-Covid guidelines by people, they said.
 

The Delhi police also distributed 121 face masks in the city on Friday.
 

The police have distributed 4,26,941 masks since June 15. 
 

3:46 AM

WHO asking rich countries to donate 10 million vaccines

The head of the World Health Organization is asking rich countries to donate at least 10 million coronavirus vaccines so the UN health agency can reach its goal of vaccination in all countries within the first 100 days of 2021.
 

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says supply problems faced by the UN-backed effort COVAX, which aims to provide vaccines to all countries, means that about 20 countries are still awaiting their first doses of vaccines from the program.
 

Tedros says he's also asking manufacturers to scale up their production so extra vaccines could be donated to poorer countries.
 

He slammed the numerous private deals countries have struck with pharmaceuticals that have meant fewer vaccines for developing countries and warned COVAX would need many more hundreds of millions of vaccines in the coming months.
 

On Thursday, WHO's COVAX partner Gavi, announced supply problems meant it would have to delay the delivery of about 90 million vaccines until about May.
 

3:45 AM

Actor Paresh Rawal tests positive for Covid-19

Veteran actor Paresh Rawal on Friday said that he has tested positive for coronavirus.
 

The 65-year-old actor, who had recently received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, shared the news in a post on Twitter, requesting those who came in contact with him to also get tested.  "Unfortunately, I have tested positive for Covid-19. All those that have come in contact with me in the last 10 days are requested to please get themselves tested," he wrote on Twitter.
 

Rawal had received the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine on May 9. He had posted picture of himself flashing the victory sign at a vaccine centre.
 

Several collegaues of Rawal from the industry, including actors Anupam Kher, Ranvir Shorey and filmmaker Rahul Dholakia, wished the actor a speedy recovery.

"Get well soon my friend @SirPareshRawal . Love and prayers always!" Kher said.
 

Shorey tweeted, "Wish you a speedy recovery, Sir!" In recent days, several other Bollywood celebrities, including R Madhavan, Aamir Khan, Kartik Aaryan, Manoj Bajpayee and Satish Kaushik, contracted the virus.
 

Mumbai on Friday reported 5,513 Covid-19 cases, taking the caseload in the country's financial capital is 3,85,628. The death toll reached 11,629.
 

10:00 PM

Third day in a row, Mumbai sees record spike, adds 5,513 cases

Mumbai on Friday reported 5,513 Covid-19 cases, the third consecutive day when the addition has been the highest since the outbreak began in March last year, a BMC official said.
 

On Thursday the count was 5,504, while it was 5,185 on Wednesday, both of which remained outbreak records for the metropolis at the time.
 

The caseload in the country's financial capital is 3,85,628, including 11,629 deaths, nine of which took place during the day, the civic official added.
 

He said Dharavi, among the densest urban settlements in the world, accounted for 58 of the cases reported in the city during the day.
 

He said the BMC had carried out contact tracing of 24,550 people, and performed 47,504 tests during the day.
 

9:33 PM

36,902 new coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, a new high; 112 deaths

Maharashtra recorded 36,902 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, the highest one-day rise since the pandemic began.

 

State capital Mumbai also witnessed a record rise of 5,515 cases during the day, health officials said.

 

The caseload in the state rose to 26,37,735, taking its positivity rate to 13. 86 per cent. With 112 fatalities reported on Friday, the death toll reached 53,907.

 

Looking at the alarming rise in cases, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray earlier in the day ordered night curfew in the entire state from Sunday (March 28) onwards.

 

Mumbai reported 5,515 new cases, its highest daily rise till now, while the nearby Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation reported 1,020 cases, its highest rise so far.

 

Pune city and neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad reported 3,679 and 1,782 new cases, respectively. As many as 1,686 cases were reported in other areas of the Pune district.

 

9:15 PM

Mumbai reports 5,513 new Covid-19 cases

8:50 PM

One new case takes Nagaland's Covid-19 tally to 12,229

Nagaland's Covid-19 tally rose to 12,229 on Friday as one more person tested positive for the infection, Health Minister S Pangnyu Phom said.

 

The fresh case was reported in Dimapur, he said.

 

Nagaland now has five active cases, while 11,979 people have recovered from the disease, 91 patients have succumbed to the infection and 154 have migrated to other states to date, Health Director Dr Denis Hangsing said.

8:34 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Germany lists France as 'high risk' Covid area

Coronavirus LIVE: Germany lists France as 'high risk' Covid area

8:31 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Punjab reports 3,176 fresh Covid-19 cases

Punjab reports 3,176 fresh Covid-19 cases, 1,816 discharges, and 59 deaths, according to the state health department.

8:22 PM

EU medicines agency backs Pfizer Covid vaccine storage at regular freezer temperature for two weeks

EU medicines agency backs Pfizer Covid vaccine storage at regular freezer temperature, instead of ultra-cold storage, for up to two weeks, according to an AFP report.

8:20 PM

More than 50 people will not be allowed to gather for Holi celebrations: Uttarakhand Secy

In wake of the Covid situation in the state, more than 50 people will not be allowed to gather for Holi celebrations: Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Om Prakash

8:10 PM

2,566 new Covid-19 cases in Karnataka, 13 deaths

Karnataka logged 2,566 new Covid-19 cases and 13 related fatalities, taking the caseload to 9.81 lakh and the toll to 12,484, the Health department said on Friday.

 

This is the fourth consecutive day that the state has reported over 2,000 fresh cases. On Thursday, it registered 2,523.

 

Bengaluru Urban continued to top the list of cases, with 1,490 infections

7:49 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra CM announces night curfew from Sunday night

In view of the increasing number of corona patients in the state, CM has instructed to impose a curfew in the state from Sunday night to avoid congestion, implement some strict measures to curb growing infection and implement it effectively: CM's Secretariat

7:45 PM

Rishikesh hotel closed for 48 hours after 16 employees test Covid positive

A leading hotel in Rishikesh has been closed for 48 hours as a precautionary measure after 16 of its employees tested positive for Covid-19 in a day, an official said on Friday.

 

Sixteen employees of Taj Rishikesh Resort and Spa tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, Narendra Nagar SDM Yukta Mishra said

7:40 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Gujarat reports 2,190 new cases

Gujarat reports 2,190 new coronavirus cases, 1,422 discharges and 6 deaths, in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department.

7:38 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Telangana CM rules out lockdown, says taking all steps to prevent spread

Coronavirus LIVE: Telangana CM rules out lockdown, says taking all steps to prevent spread

7:16 PM

No concern regarding safety of Covishield, Covaxin vaccines: Health minister

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday said both Covaxin and Covishied are completely safe and immunogenic and as of now, there are no concerns about the safety of these vaccines being used in the country.

 

He said this at the India Economic Conclave while responding to the growing concerns surrounding Covishield after reports emerged of the vaccine causing blood clots.

 

Such cases are being examined by the respective governments of the countries where those have emerged. In India, all cases of adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) are monitored through a well-structured and robust surveillance system, Vardhan said.

7:11 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Jammu and Kashmir reports 210 new cases

Jammu and Kashmir reports 210 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of cases to 129,413, according to the state health department.

7:10 PM

EU medicines regulator approves new vaccine production sites

The European Medicines Agency has approved new manufacturing sites for coronavirus vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca, in a move that could significantly boost Europe's supply of the shots.

 

In a statement published on Friday, the European Union's medicines regulator said it had approved sites in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland for the Covid-19 vaccines made by the companies.

 

The new approvals come amid the 27-nation bloc's struggles to ramp up Covid-19 vaccination and repeated delivery delays and manufacturing problems.

6:56 PM

Union Home Secy asks states to regulate crowds during festivals

In view of the upcoming festivals such as Holi and Easter, state governments must take necessary steps to regulate crowds during this period, said union home secretary Ajay Bhalla in a letter addressed to states and union territories.

 

"States must ensure strict observance of Covid appropriate behaviour such as wearing masks and social distancing," he said.

 

Bhalla urged various state governments to issue directions to district administrations and police authorities to scrupulously enforce Covid appropriate behaviour.

6:37 PM

Union Home secy Ajay Bhalla writes to all states, UTs to take necessary measures in view of upcoming festivals

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla writes to all states and Union Territories to take necessary measures in view of upcoming festivals

6:33 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Uttarakhand reports 186 fresh Covid-19 cases

Uttarakhand reports 186 fresh Covid-19 cases and one death in the last 24 hours, taking active cases to 1,162 and death toll to 1,708, according to the state health department

6:29 PM

Aid groups call on Biden to develop plans to share vaccines

A coalition of nongovernmental organisations is calling on President Joe Biden to immediately begin developing plans to share an expected surplus of hundreds of millions of Covid-19 vaccine doses with the world, once US demand for shots is met.

 

Biden has repeatedly said his primary focus is on ensuring all Americans can get vaccinated, and on Thursday he outlined a new goal to deliver 200 million doses cumulatively over his first 100 days in office.

 

But with all adults set to be eligible for shots by May 1, and the US set to have enough vaccine for its entire population by the end of July, Biden is being asked to facilitate the sharing of excess doses with the world and to do so without putting strings on the injections or engaging in vaccine diplomacy.

6:29 PM

Punjab: Covid-positive undertrial escapes from civil hospital

A Covid-positive undertrial escaped from the prisoner ward of the civil hospital here on Friday, police said.

 

The accused has been identified as Avtar Singh, a resident of Raikhana village in Bathinda district, police said.

 

A few days back, police arrested Singh with more than 1,000 banned capsules of a drug, officials said, adding that the accused tested coronavirus-positive after he was nabbed.

6:17 PM

Thailand plans quarantine-free entry for vaccinated tourists

Thailand plans to allow vaccinated foreigners to visit the southern resort island of Phuket without quarantining on arrival in a step toward reviving the country's big but battered tourism industry.

 

Starting in April, the country also is shortening the quarantine period for arrivals from abroad to 10 days from 14.

 

Thailand's tourism industry dried up when scheduled passenger flights into the country were barred in April last year to curb the spread of the coronavirus. There has been a limited resumption of flights since then.

6:16 PM

Nagpur sees 4,095 Covid-19 cases, highest ever in a single day

Nagpur on Friday saw its highest every single-day spike in Covid-19 cases as 4,095 people were detected with the infection, while the day also saw 35 deaths and 1,943 people getting discharged, an official said.

 

The district's caseload now stands at 2,11,162, including 4,819 deaths, and a recovery count of 1,69,407 has left it with 36,936 active cases, he added.

6:07 PM

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray reviews Covid situation with district officials

6:05 PM

Covid-19: Goa sees 113 cases, 111 recoveries, 1 death

Goa's coronavirus caseload went up by 113 and reached 57,283 on Friday, while the number of deaths increased by one and the recovery count by 111, an official said.

 

So far, 823 people have died of the infection and 55,181 have been discharged, leaving the state with an active caseload of 1,279, he added.

6:02 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: 1815 new cases, and 14 deaths reported in Kerala

1,815 new coronavirus cases, 1,917 recoveries and 14 deaths in Kerala in the last 24 hours. Number of active cases now at 24,274; so far 1,084,585 patients have recovered. Death toll stands at 4,553, according to the state health department