Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra reports 57,000 new cases for the first time

Coronavirus live updates: India saw a grim record of most fatalities due to Covid in a single day in 2021 on Saturday. Stay tuned for corona-related news

10:14 PM

Bengal reports 1,957 new Covid-19 cases, 4 fresh fatalities

West Bengal's Covid-19 tally mounted to 5,93,615 on Sunday as 1,957 more people tested positive for the infection, while four fresh fatalities pushed the state's coronavirus death toll to 10,344, a health bulletin said.

 

Kolkata reported the highest number of new cases at 634, followed by North 24 Parganas (462) and Howrah (174).

10:02 PM

Gujarat: Record 2,875-case spike

Gujarat on Sunday reported 2,875 Covid-19 cases, the state's highest single-day addition, taking its tally to 3,18,438, the new mark coming a day after a 2815-case spike record was set on Saturday, an official said.

 

The day also saw 14 deaths, taking the toll to 4,566, and the recovery count touched 2,98,737, or 93.81 per cent of the caseload, after 2,024 people were discharged, he added.

9:32 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Tamil Nadu reports 3,581 new cases

Tamil Nadu reports 3,581 new Covid cases, 1,813 recoveries, and 14 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department.

 

9:27 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Punjab reports 3,019 fresh Covid cases

Coronavirus LIVE: Punjab reports 3,019 fresh Covid cases, 2,955 discharges, and 51 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department.

9:21 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Delhi reports 4,033 new cases

Coronavirus LIVE: Delhi reports 4,033 new cases in the last 24 hours, according to the health department

9:05 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra reports 57,000 new cases for the first time

Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra reports 57,000 new cases for the first time

9:03 PM

Seven fatalities, 1,904 new coronavirus cases in Haryana

Haryana on Sunday reported seven fresh COVID-19 fatalities which took the death toll to 3,191, while 1,904 new cases pushed the tally to 2,98,133 in the state, a health department bulletin said.

 

While three fatalities werereported from Kaithal, one death each was from Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Ambala and Sonipat districts, it said.

 

The bulletin said among the districts that reported a big spike in cases were Gurgaon (555), Panchkula (200), Karnal (185), Faridabad (151), Panipat (142) and Ambala (114). The number of active cases in the state is 12,574 and the recovery rate is 94.71 per cent,as per the bulletin.

8:44 PM

43 more people test positive for coronavirus in UP's Muzaffarnagar

Forty-three more people tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar on Sunday, taking the infection count in the district to 9,039, an official said.

 

According to Chief Medical Officer SK Aggarwal, they had received results of 1,013 samples, of which 43 were found positive. Now, the number of active cases has gone up to 259. Meanwhile, 13 people recovered from the infection, taking the number of cured people to 8,666 in the district, the official said.

7:59 PM

Mumbai reports 11,163 new Covid-19 cases and 25 deaths in past 24 hours

7:58 PM

PM Modi reviews Covid-19 situation amid 'alarming rate of growth' in cases, deaths

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reviewed the COVID-19 situation and vaccination exercise in the country amid an "alarming rate of growth" in infections and deaths, with 10 states contributing to more than 91 percent of them.

 

Modi said the five-fold strategy of testing, tracing, treatment, COVID-appropriate behaviour and vaccination if implemented with utmost seriousness and commitment would be effective in curbing the pandemic's spread, according to an official statement.

 

The reasons for the sharp rise in cases could be mainly attributed to the severe decline in compliance of COVID-appropriate behaviour, especially in the use of masks and social distancing, pandemic fatigue and lack of effective implementation of containment measures at the field level, it said.

7:35 PM

Kerala records 2,802 coronavirus cases, 10 deaths in a day

Kerala added 2,802 new COVID-19 cases and ten more deaths on Sunday, pushing the infection count to 11,35,233 and the toll to 4,668.

 

A total of 2,173 people recuperated from the disease today, taking the total cured in the state to 11,02,359. There are 27,893 people under treatment and 1,42,854 under observation of which 4,403 are in isolation wards of various hospitals. The State health department said the government has tested 45,171 samples in the last 24 hours and the test positivity rate was 6.20 per cent.

7:13 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Karnataka reports 4,553 new Covid cases in past 24 hours

Karnataka on Sunday logged 4,553 fresh coronavirus cases and 15 deaths, taking the caseload and toll to 10,15,155 and 12,625 respectively, the health department said. According to a department bulletin, so far 9,63,419 people were discharged cumulatively, including 2,060 today.

 

There were 39,092 active cases which includes 331 in the ICU, the department added. Bengaluru urban district accounted for 2,787 fresh infections and eight deaths.The city has reported 4,47,031 infections and 4,649 deaths till date, while the active cases stood at 28,098.

6:57 PM

Maharashtra: Nagpur sees 62 Covid-19 deaths in a day, highest so far

Nagpur district in Maharashtra on Sunday reported the highest 62 COVID-19 fatalities in a day, taking the toll to 5,327, an official release said. The district added 4,110 fresh infections, taking the tally to 2,41,606.

 

With 3,497 patients getting discharged during the day, the count of recoveries in the district rose to 1,94,908, it said, adding the district is now left with 41,371 active cases. With 18,135 new tests, the overall count of samples tested so far in Nagpur district has gone up to 16,92,973. READ ON...

6:36 PM

US halts AstraZeneca jab production at Baltimore plant after 'human error'

A plant in the US which ruined 15 million potential doses of Johnson and Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine has been asked to stop producing doses for AstraZeneca, the media reported.

 

The facility at Baltimore, Emergent Biosolutions, was earlier picked as a manufacturing partner for both AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson. In a statement on Saturday, Johnson and Johnson said it was "assuming full responsibility" regarding the manufacturing of drug substance for its Covid-19 vaccine at the Emergent BioSolutions. READ MORE...

6:25 PM

Maharashtra night curfew: Essential services and transportation including buses, trains, taxis permitted

6:13 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: New restrictions in Maharashtra from Monday 8 pm onwards

The Maharashtra government on Sunday announced a weekend lockdown in the state from 8 pm on Friday to 7 am on Monday in a bid to curb the growing numbers of COVID-19 cases in the state.

 

Apart from the weekend lockdown, strict restrictions will be in force from Monday 8 pm onwards, Minority Affairs Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

 

He said that night curfew will continue and prohibitory orders issued under section 144 will be force during the day time during the week.

5:56 PM

Weekend lockdown in Maharashtra to curb coronavirus cases: State Minister

A weekend lockdown has been announced in Maharashtra to contain the fresh wave of coronavirus infections, state minister Nawab Malik said on Sunday, news agency PTI reported. The state reported nearly 50,000 cases on Saturday. Earlier during the day, Uddhav Thackeray led a cabinet meeting though video-conference to discuss the coronavirus situation in the state. READ MORE...

5:50 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Weekend lockdown in Maharashtra, fresh restrictions

Weekend lockdown in Maharashtra following surge in coronavirus cases: NCP minister Nawab Malik, according to PTI.

5:35 PM

PM Modi asks officials to work with 'mission-mode' in states seeing Covid-19 surge

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting to review the coronavirus situation and vaccination program in the country. 

 

"The Prime Minister directed that for sustainable Covid-19 management, awareness of the community and its involvement is paramount and there is a need to continue Jan Bhagidari and Jan Andolan," the government said in a release. "Modi mentioned that the five-fold strategy of testing, tracing, treatment, Covid-appropriate behaviour and vaccination if implemented with utmost seriousness and commitment would be effective in curbing the spread of the Pandemic," it said.

 

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Chairperson (Empowered group on Vaccine Administration), Secretary Health, and other senior officials.

5:11 PM

Maharashtra: Case against 1,011 people for violating coronavirus norms

Police have registered a case against 1,011 people for allegedly violating COVID-19 prevention rules by attending a religious gathering in Maharashtra's Buldhana district, an official said on Sunday.

 

The incident took place on Friday when the people took out the annual 'Sandal yatra' to the shrine of Sailani Baba here, despite such gatherings not being allowed due to a rise in COVID-19 cases, Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Ramesh Barkate said. The Maharashtra government recently prohibited religious, social and political gatherings in the state. READ MORE...

4:50 PM

Odisha reports 471 new coronavirus positive cases

Odisha has reported 471 new COVID-19 cases and 33,76,35 recoveries in the last 24 hours, according to the State Health Department on Sunday.Of the new cases, 278 were reported from quarantine centers and 193 detected during contact tracing.

 

The highest number of cases were reported in Odisha from Balangi (36) followed by Balasore where 15 cases were reported; Angul registered 10, while Bhadrak reported 6 and Bargarh reported 5 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours.

 

India reported 93,249 new COVID-19 cases and 513 coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the Union Health Ministry on Sunday.

3:51 PM

People seen without face maks during a cricket match in Mumbai earlier today

3:47 PM

JNU issues fresh directions to prevent spread of Covid-19 on campus

In the wake of rising COVID-19 cases, the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday issued fresh directions for students and staff members, including mandatory thermal screening and wearing of face mask at hostels and inside all buildings on campus.

 

Delhi recorded 3,567 COVID-19 cases on Saturday and the positive rate continued to rise to 4.48 per cent from 4.11 per cent a day ago while 10 more people succumbed to the deadly virus.

 

The national capital has seen an increase in cases with 3,594 cases being reported on Friday, the highest daily count this year, 2,790 cases on Thursday, 1,819 cases on Wednesday and 992 cases on Tuesday, according to official data.

3:20 PM

Jammu and Kashmir schools to remain shut till April 18 for students of up to Class 9

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday announced that all schools for students up to classes nine will remain closed for two weeks from April 5 to April 18 in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the Union Territory (UT).

 

Physical classes for students from classes 10 to 12 will also be suspended for a week, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's office said in a tweet on Sunday.

 

"In view of a rising trend in COVID-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir and the likelihood of young children getting infected and transmitting infection in large numbers, all classes up to and including class 9 in schools will be closed for two weeks in all schools beginning on Monday -- from April 5 till April 18, 2021 in Jammu and Kashmir," Sinha's office tweeted.

2:46 PM

Spot fine of Rs 1,000 at Mumbai airport for violating Covid-19 norms

Mumbai airport has started imposing a spot fine of Rs 1,000 from April 1 on the passengers violating the mandatory Covid-19 safety protocol in the wake of aviation regulator director DGCA warning last week amid an increasing number of coronavirus infection cases in Maharashtra and some other states, according to a statement on Saturday.

 

After it found passengers at some airports flouting the mandatory COVID-19 safety protocols during the routine surveillance, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had advised airports to explore the option of taking stricter actions, such as slapping fine on the people violating such rules at the premises.

2:24 PM

PM Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review Covid-19 situation and vaccination program

2:03 PM

Coronavirus update: Eight states account for over 80% of new cases

Eight states including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat account for 80.96 per cent of the93,249 new daily COVID-19 cases, according to the Union Health Ministry.

 

India is seeing a steep intensification in the doubling time of the COVID-19 cases. As of April 4, it is 115.4 days, the ministry said on Sunday.

 

India's total active caseload has reached 6,91,597 andnow comprises 5.54 per centof the country's total infections. A net rise of 32,688 cases recorded in the total active caseload in a span of 24 hours. READ MORE...

1:27 PM

Amid surge in Covid-19 cases, J-K schools for students up to Class 9 to remain shut

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday announced that all schools for students up to Class 9 will remain closed for two weeks from April 5 in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the union territory. Physical classes for students from classes 10 to 12 will also be suspended for a week, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's office said in a tweet on Sunday. This comes days after the Jammu and Kashmir administration asked all district magistrates to take a call on the continuation of physical classes in schools amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in the union territory. "In view of rising trend in #COVID19 cases in J&K & likelihood of young children getting infected & transmitting infection in large numbers, ALL classes up to & including Class 9 in schools will be closed for 2 weeks in all schools beginning on Monday, 5 April till 18 April, 21 in J&K," Sinha's office tweeted.

1:15 PM

People flock to Mumbai's Shivaji Park despite increase in Covid-19 cases

Despite an alarming situation in Maharashtra due to increasing COVID-19 cases, people were seen playing cricket at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park in Mumbai on Sunday. The people in the park were seen flouting social distancing norms, and many were also seen without masks. Mumbai on Friday reported 9,090 fresh COVID cases in the last 24 hours. As many as 5,322 people have recovered from the disease in Mumbai in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 3,66,365. The active number of COVID cases in the city stands at 62,187. Mumbai recorded 27 COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 11,751.

 

1:07 PM

Going the extra mile: Pvt schools paying for COVID-19 vaccination of their 'Corona Warriors'

Calling their teachers 'Corona Warriors' who kept the momentum of classes going despite the pandemic forcing school closures, several private schools are helping them get inoculated by booking slots at government vaccination centres, paying for their shots at private facilities and some even bearing their travel expenses for visiting the centres. While the schools say the drive right now is for staff above the age of 45 years, in accordance with the government guidelines, they will cover their remaining staff too once the lower age bracket is eligible. "In consideration to the sheer dedication and dexterity with which our teachers have supported us throughout the difficult year of 2020, the school considers them no less than frontline workers. In order to assure them complete safety and extend them support in terms of healthcare, the school has been conducting the vaccination drive in the first 10 days of April for the staff members who stand eligible according to the government guidelines," said Rajat Goel, Director, MRG School, Rohini.