Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra reports 27,918 new cases in last 24 hours

Coronavirus live updates: Maharashtra witnessed a marginal dip in its daily cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), as well as deaths. Stay tuned for corona-related news

1:57 AM

UP: Schools for students up to Class 8 shut till April 4

Amid a spike in coronavirus cases, the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday extended to April 4 the closure of all schools for students up to Class 8, according to an official.
 

Earlier, the state government had shut schools for students up to Class 8 till March 31.
 

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued the fresh directions during a review meeting at his 5-Kalidas Marg residence here.
 

The CM has directed the closure of schools for students up to Class 8 till April 4, an official spokesperson said, adding that it has been ordered to ensure that the Covid-19 protocol is followed for other classes.
 

The CM asked officials to step up testing with focus on old age homes, orphanages, residential schools and other such places.
 

The CM said the dedicated Covid hospitals made earlier should be reactivated.
 

1:57 AM

Maharashtra CM's wife admitted in hospital for Covid-19 treatment

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's wife Rashmi Thackeray was on Tuesday admitted in a hospital here for Covid-19 treatment, sources close to the CM's family said.
 

Since her Covid-19 test came out positive on March 22 night, Rashmi Thackeray remained home quarantined, an official had said.
 

Earlier, the CM's son and minister Aaditya Thackeray had also tested positive for coronavirus.
 

The CM and Rashmi Thackeray had taken the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at the government-run J J Hospital here on March 11.

Rashmi Thackeray is editor of 'Saamana', the mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena.
 

1:56 AM

Bengal reports 2 more Covid deaths, 626 fresh cases

West Bengal's Covid-19 death toll went up to 10,327 on Tuesday after two more persons succumbed to the disease, the health department said in a bulletin.

The tally also increased to 5,85,933 as 628 fresh cases of the infection were reported from different parts of the state, it said.
 

The two deaths were registered in Kolkata and South 24 Parganas district.
 

The 628 new infections included 265 from Kolkata and 145 from North 24 Parganas district, the bulletin said.
 

Since Monday, 475 patients recovered from Covid-19 and the discharge rate is now 97.33 per cent.
 

So far, 5,70,303 people have been cured of the disease in West Bengal.
 

The number of active cases now is 5,303, the bulletin said.
 

In the last 24 hours, 17,869 samples were tested for coronavirus in West Bengal taking the total number of such tests to 91,49,202.
 

Meanwhile, 2,06,829 people were vaccinated on Tuesday in the state, a senior official of the state health department said.
 

Altogether 49.62 lakh people were inoculated in West Bengal so far.
 

"One minor AEFI (adverse events following immunisation) case was reported today. The person who was sent home after initial observation is okay at the moment," the official said.
 

1:55 AM

Three new cases take Nagaland's Covid-19 tally to 12,233

The Covid-19 caseload in Nagaland rose to 12,233 as three more persons have tested positive for the disease, a health department official said on Tuesday.

All new cases were reported from Kohima, he said.
 

The northeastern state now has eight active cases- five in Dimapur and three in Kohima, Health and Family Welfare Department's Director Dr Denis Hangsing said.

A total of 11,980 people have been cured of the disease so far, he said, adding that the recovery rate currently stands at 97.93 per cent.
 

Ninety-one coronavirus patients, including 10 with comorbidities, have died in Nagaland, and 154 migrated to other states, the official said.
 

The state has so far conducted 23,250 Rapid Antigen Tests, while 75,356 samples were tested through RT-PCR and 37,520 through TrueNat, he added. 
 

1:55 AM

Grofers to cover Covid-19 vaccination cost for employees, families, contractual staff

Online grocery platform Grofers on Tuesday said it will cover the cost of Covid-19 vaccination for its employees, their family members as well as the company's contractual staff.
 

The company aims to cover vaccination cost for 25,000 people across 38 cities, it added.
 

Grofers will cover the vaccination cost for its employees, their family members (including, parents, spouse, and two children) and the company's contractual workforce, a statement said.
 

Also, the company will reimburse the vaccination cost for those who will administer the vaccine through their personal arrangements.
 

With the government recently appealing to people above 45 years to take the vaccine, the company will begin covering costs for its employees and their family members of this age group.
 

Post the government guidelines allowing the vaccination for remaining age groups, Grofers will ensure coverage of costs for the remaining workforce and their family members, the statement said.
 

Extra sick leave will also be granted towards the vaccine drive for employees to manage any post-vaccination symptoms.
 

9:06 PM

Reporting of Covid cases post vaccination rare': Vardhan

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who along with his wife took the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, said cases of individuals reporting coronavirus infection post vaccination are extremely rare" and the disease among them would be very mild and not progress to an advanced stage".

 

Vardhan and his wife Nutan Goel were administered the second dose of the vaccine at the Delhi Heart and Lung Institute. They had taken the first dose of the indigenously developed Covaxin' by Bharat Biotech, on March 2.

 

We are yet to feel the slightest discomfort since our first dose of the vaccine, the minister said as he appealed to every eligible person to get vaccinated, especially in light of the government's recent decision to extend the inoculation programme to all those above 45 years of age.

8:37 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra reports 27,918 new cases

Maharashtra reports 27,918 new coronavirus cases, 23,820 discharges and 139 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department.

8:21 PM

J&K sees highest single day surge of Covid cases

Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday saw its highest single-day surge of Covid-19 cases, at 359, while the number of active cases crossed 2,200 and one death was reported during the last 24 hours.

 

Health Department officials said that of the new cases, 93 were from the Jammu division and 266 from the Kashmir division while 175 patients were discharged from different hospitals after recovery.

8:06 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: 191 positive cases reported in IIM Ahmedabad so far

Gujarat: A total of 191 positive cases for coronavirus reported in IIM Ahmedabad so far.

8:05 PM

No of beds reserved for Covid being increased: Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announces that number of beds reserved for Covid-19 patients is being increased at few hospitals in view of surge in infections in Delhi

8:04 PM

Negative report must for travellers from 12 states witnessing Covid surge: Uttarakhand government

From April 1, travellers from Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab. Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan entering the state must carry negative RT-PCR test report not older than 72 hours: Uttarakhand government

7:50 PM

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan asks states to take action at district level

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan writes to chief secretaries and administrators of all states and union territories, suggesting them action required at the district level in the wake of the Covid situation.

 

7:26 PM

Pak PM Imran Khan makes full recovery from Covid-19, resumes work

Prime Minister Imran Khan has made full recovery from the coronavirus and has resumed work, it was announced on Tuesday, more than a week after he tested positive for the deadly virus.

 

Senator Faisal Javed Khan, who is considered close to the premier, made the announcement on Twitter.

 

"He has resumed work gradually and started building up his work routine as per doctors' instructions keeping in view national and international guidelines," the senator tweeted, adding that the public should take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.

7:25 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Himachal Pradesh reports 339 new positive cases

339 new positive cases, 137 recoveries, and 6 deaths reported in Himachal Pradesh in the past 24 hours, according to the state health department

7:24 PM

Covid-19 claims 10 more lives in UP; 918 new cases detected

Uttar Pradesh reported 10 more Covid-19 fatalities on Tuesday, pushing the death toll to 8,800, while 918 new cases took the infection tally in the state to 615,996.

 

Four deaths were reported from Lucknow, two from Kanpur, and one each from Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Unnao and Auraiya, a health bulletin issued here said.

 

"The state reported 918 new cases of coronavirus infection in past 24 hours. While the death toll reached 8,800, the number of active cases is 9,195. The number of patients treated and discharged is now 598,001," it said.

7:22 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Chandigarh reports 265 new cases

Chandigarh reports 265 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of infections to 26,733, according to the health department

7:02 PM

Kumbh: 32 people tested Covid positive at an ashram, modified SOPs to be issued

6:46 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Karnataka sees nearly 3,000 new cases in last 24 hours

Coronavirus LIVE: Karnataka sees nearly 3,000 new cases in last 24 hours

6:25 PM

Kerala reports over 2300 Covid-19 cases

Kerala logged 2,389 positive cases, including 13 health workers, on Tuesday, pushing the total caseload to 11.21 lakh and the active cases to 24,650, the state government said.

 

As many as 1946 people have been cured of the infection, taking the total recoveries to 10,92,365.

 

In the last 24 hours ending at 2 pm, 58,557 samples have been tested and the test positivity rate was 4.08 per cent.

6:25 PM

China to finally give vaccines for senior citizens but only a single jab

China has finally announced plans to inoculate Covid-19 vaccine to its senior citizens aged 60 and above but they would be provided only one jab without a booster as it is not recommended for now, a media report said on Tuesday.

 

According to China's National Health Commission, (NHC) over 110 million people have been given Covid-19 vaccines in China so far but only for people between 18 to 59 years. People above 59 years are yet to be given the jabs, state-run Global Times reported.

 

China also says it has shipped 100 million vaccines abroad but yet to vaccinate its elderly.

6:19 PM

Goa records 127 new Covid-19 cases; 136 recoveries

With the addition of 127 new cases of coronavirus, Goa's tally of infections reached 57,839 on Tuesday, an official from the state health department said.

 

At least 136 patients were discharged from various treatment facilities, while one of them died of the infection during the day, the official said.

 

These latest additions have taken the count of recoveries to 55,591 and the toll stood at 829, he said, adding that the state is left with 1,419 active cases.

6:07 PM

Over 18,500 challans issued in Delhi in last 5 days for Covid-19 norm violations

More than 18,500 challans were issued and fines worth over Rs 3.18 crore imposed in the national capital for Covid-19 protocol violation in the last five days, official data released on Tuesday showed.

 

While the highest number of challans issued was in North Delhi district, the lowest was in East Delhi district, it showed.

 

The report on enforcement actions for strict implementation of Covid-19-appropriate behaviour has been compiled on the basis of data received from 11 revenue districts pertaining to action taken from March 25 to 29.

 

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority had ordered that there will be no public celebrations in the national capital on March 29 on account of Holi and Shab-e-Barat.

5:48 PM

New variants more dangerous, require people to be more cautious: HP CM

New coronavirus strains are more powerful and dangerous, requiring people to follow anti-Covid precautions more strictly, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has warned.

 

Thakur cautioned people while taking stock of the Covid-19 spread in the state in a meeting at Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda, near Dharamsala.

 

The health experts have observed that new Coronavirus variants leave no symptoms of cough or fever and patients just complain of joint pains, weakness and loss of appetite and Covid-19 pneumonia, said the chief minister.

 

It takes much less time to aggravate compared to the old variant and at times, there are no symptoms at all, he said.

5:35 PM

Punjab extends virus curbs, schools, colleges to remain shut till April 10

The Punjab government on Tuesday extended restrictions to tackle coronavirus with schools and colleges to remain shut for another 10 days.

 

On March 19, the Punjab government had ordered the closure of educational institutes besides gathering restrictions till the month-end.

 

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday ordered that all restrictions that are in place till March 31, will now remain in force till April 10, according to a statement.

5:24 PM

Telangana tops list of states with highest vaccine doses given in private facilities: Govt

With 48.39 per cent, Telangana tops list of states with highest Covid-19 vaccine doses given in private facilities. Delhi second with 43.11 per cent, says govt

5:22 PM

Vaccination certification first step for re-establishing travel without quarantine: Singapore

Discussions on mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certification will be the first step towards re-establishing travel without quarantine or stay-home notice with other countries, Singapore's Ministry of Transport (MOT) said on Tuesday.

 

The Ministry said it was looking to establish these new travel arrangements with countries and regions which have "successfully controlled the pandemic through surveillance and testing, contact tracing and social distancing measures".

 

Vaccination offers a further means of bringing down Covid-19 infection rates, The Straits Times reported, quoting an MOT spokesman.

 

He added that these discussions about vaccination certification at the International Civil Aviation Organisation, as well as bilaterally, will take some time since most places have only just started vaccinations and are looking into certifications.

5:09 PM

States aren't isolating enough people: Centre

We found that isolation isn't taking place in most states, people are being told to isolate at home. But it's to be monitored if they're actually doing it. If they can't, they must be quarantined institutionally. Delhi was able to bring numbers under control through it: Govt

5:03 PM

UK variant detected in 807, South African variant in 47 and Brazilian variant found in one: Govt

Of 11,064 genome samples sequenced, UK variant detected in 807, South African variant in 47 and Brazilian variant found in one, says govt

4:58 PM

Covid LIVE: Situation getting worse, whole nation at risk, says Centre

Covid LIVE: Situation getting worse, whole nation at risk, says Centre

4:43 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Whole country is at risk of second wave, says govt

We are facing an increasingly severe and intensive situation in some districts but the whole country is potentially at risk. All efforts to contain the virus and save lives should be taken: Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog on current Covid-19 situation in the country