Covid-19 LIVE: Over 68,500 new cases in Maharashtra, another record spike

Coronavirus live updates: Modi asks civil servants to press entire national capacity for vaccine production as daily cases and deaths rise. Stay tuned for news on Covid-19

2:54 AM

Maharashtra: Negative RT-PCR report must for train passengers from 6 states

Train passengers from Kerala, Goa, Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat and Uttarakhand will now require a negative RT-PCR test report to travel to Maharashtra. The test needs to be taken at least 48 hours before travel.

 

The Maharashtra government has categorised these six states as 'places of sensitive origin' in view of surge in Covid-19 cases. A new SOP is being put in place for travel in long-distance trains from these states to contain the spread of infection.

 

"All passengers shall be compulsorily screened and only asymptomatic passengers shall be allowed to board the trains for Maharashtra. Social distancing should be ensured during boarding/deboarding and travel," Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte said in an order on Sunday. Read more

2:53 AM

India records highest single-day rise of 2,61,500 coronavirus cases

A record single-day rise of 261,500 coronavirus infections has taken India’s total tally of Covid-19 cases to 14,788,109, while active cases have surpassed the 18-lakh mark, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

 

The death toll increased to 177,150 with a record 1,501 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

 

 

Registering a steady increase for the 39th day in a row, the active cases stand at 18,01,316, comprising 12.18 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has dropped to 86.62 per cent, the ministry said.

 

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 12,809,643, while the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.20 per cent, the data stated.

 

India’s Covid-19 tally had crossed 2,000,000 on August 7, 3,000,000 on August 23, 4,000,000 on September 5 and 5,000,000 on September 16. Read more

2:52 AM

Chhattisgarh reports 12,345 fresh Covid-19 cases

8:55 PM

Maharashtra records biggest single-day rise of 68,631 new Covid-19 cases

As many as 68,631 fresh COVID-19 cases and 503 deaths were reported from Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, the highest in the state so far since the pandemic broke out last year.

 

With this, the total number of active cases in the state now stands at 6,70,388, the state health department informed.

 

So far, as many as 31,06,828 recoveries and 60,473 deaths have been reported. Out of the total fresh cases, 8,479 were reported from Mumbai. 53 lives were claimed by the virus in the city in the last 24 hours. There are 87,698 active cases in Mumbai while the death toll stands at 12,347.

8:37 PM

Tamil Nadu imposes night curfew from April 20 amid Covid-19 surge

Witnessing the surge in the COVID-19 cases in the state, the Tamil Nadu government on Sunday imposed a night curfew between 10 pm to 4 am which will come into effect from April 20. Sunday curfew will be implemented from April 25.

 

According to a statement issued by the state government, no public or private transport will be allowed during night curfew. Intra-state and inter-state public and private transport too will not be operated.

 

The state government has also postponed the class 12 board exams amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, however, the practical exams will be conducted as already planned.

 

8:33 PM

Covid-19 LIVE: Over 68,500 new cases in Maharashtra, another record spike

8:23 PM

West Bengal registers record 8,419 new Covid-19 cases, 28 fresh fatalities

The COVID-19 caseload of West Bengal, where an eight-phase assembly election is underway, soared to 6,59,927 as the state registered its highest single-day spike of 8,419 fresh infections on Sunday, a health bulletin said.

 

Twenty-eight fresh fatalities pushed the state's coronavirus death toll to 10,568, it said.

 

Kolkata reported the highest number of new cases at 2,197, followed by 1,860 in neighbouring North 24 Parganas district. North 24 Parganas registered six fresh fatalities, followed by five in Kolkata.

8:19 PM

Tamil Nadu's daily coronavirus tally crosses 10,000-mark

Tamil Nadu on Sunday recorded an all time high in daily COVID-19 cases by adding 10,723 more infections, pushing the total caseload to 9.91 lakh. The toll mounted to 13,113 with 42 fatalities in the last 24 hours.

 

According to a medical bulletin, total recoveries climbed to 9,07,947 with 5,925 patients being discharged, leaving 70,391 active infections. Testing of samples stood at 1,10,130, pushing the cumulative number of specimens examined to 2.11 crore so far.

8:13 PM

Delhi records biggest single day spike of over 25,000 fresh Covid-19 infections

The national capital on Sunday reported over 25,000 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest in a single day since the pandemic broke out last year. As per the Delhi health department, 25,462 COVID-19 cases and 161 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total active cases in Delhi to 74,941.

 

The total positive cases in the city now stand at 8,53,460, including 7,66,398 recoveries and 12,121 deaths. As many as 85,620 samples were tested for the virus, including 56,015 RTPCR/CBNAAT/TrueNath tests and 29,605 Rapid antigen tests. The tests per million stand at 8,54,105.

7:53 PM

8,479 new coronavirus cases, 53 deaths in last 24 hours in Mumbai; 1,188 buildings sealed so far

8,479 new coronavirus cases, 53 deaths in last 24 hours in Mumbai; 1,188 buildings sealed so far.

7:53 PM

1,526 new coronavirus cases recorded in Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday recorded 1,526 new coronavirus cases, including of 226 travellers, taking the total of infected people to 1,46,692, even as six fresh deaths in the past 24 hours took the toll to 2,057, officials said.

 

Out of the fresh cases, 547 were from the Jammu division and 979 from the Kashmir division of the union territory, they said.

 

The officials said Srinagar district recorded the highest of 520 cases, including of 63 travellers, followed by 299 cases in Jammu district and 122 in Baramulla district.

7:52 PM

Gujarat reports 10,340 fresh coronavirus cases and 110 deaths in the last 24 hours

Gujarat reports 10,340 fresh coronavirus cases, 3,981 recoveries, and 110 deaths in the last 24 hours

7:36 PM

Delhi reports 25,462 fresh Covid-19 cases and 161 deaths in the past 24 hours

7:30 PM

8,690 fresh cases of Covid-19 in Bihar in the past 24 hours: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar

8,690 fresh cases of Covid-19 have been reported in Bihar in the past 24 hours: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar

7:27 PM

Delhi is facing acute shortage of oxygen: CM Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi is facing acute shortage of oxygen. In view of sharply increasing cases, Delhi needs much more than normal supply. Rather than increasing supply, our normal supply has been sharply reduced and Delhi’s quota has been diverted to other states: CM Arvind Kejriwal.

7:26 PM

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal visits Covid-19 center at Commonwealth Games Village

7:16 PM

Manmohan Singh calls for ramping up vaccination in 5-point letter to PM

With the second wave of Covid-19 rampaging across India, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly advocated ramping up the vaccine supply by providing funds and concessions to the private sector and adopting a more transparent and flexible policy in distribution of vaccines to states.

 

Singh in his five-point suggestions also advocated compulsory licensing provisions for vaccines as in case of HIV/AIDS drugs so that more companies can produce the vaccines under a license. READ MORE...

7:10 PM

Andhra Pradesh sees 6,582 fresh coronavirus cases, 22 deaths

Andhra Pradesh reported 6,582 fresh cases of coronavirus, 2,343 recoveries and 22 deaths in the last 24 hours ending 9 AM on Sunday. The active COVID-19 caseload has increased to 44,686, a bulletin said.

 

The chart showed 9,62,037 positive cases, 9,09,941 recoveries and 7,410 deaths so far.

7:05 PM

Lockdowns, curfews should not affect Covid vaccination drive: Centre to States, UTs

The Union Health Ministry has written to States/UTs to ensure that movement restriction imposed by them for curbing COVID-19 spread does not adversely impact the vaccination exercise, by restricting access of beneficiaries to the COVID vaccination centres.

 

In the letter to States/UTs, the ministry said it is being advised that the vaccination services should not be affected by COVID-19 curfews, lockdowns and the movement of beneficiaries to and from COVID-19 Vaccination Centres (CNCs) should not be restricted during such interventions.

 

"Similarly those CVCs which have been identified as dedicated COVID-19 hospitals should continue providing uninterrupted COVID-19 vaccination services," the order said.

6:59 PM

Night curfew (9 pm to 5 am) will remain in place across Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar

6:58 PM

Tata Steel, SAIL, AMNS India supplying oxygen for treatment of Covid-19 patients

Tata Steel on Sunday announced it is supplying up to 300 tonnes of medical oxygen on a daily basis to various state governments and hospitals for treatment of COVID-19 patients. Liquid medical oxygen or LMO is a crucial medical requirement for the treatment of coronavirus patients.

 

"Responding to the national urgency, we are supplying 200-300 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen daily to various state governments and hospitals. We are in this fight together and will surely win it! @PMOIndia @TataCompanies," Tata Steel said in a tweet.

 

In a tweet on Saturday, the country's largest steel-making company SAIL said it has also supplied over 33,300 tonne of LMO for the treatment of coronavirus-affected patients.

6:52 PM

Bonus salary of one month to all healthcare workers this year also: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

6:44 PM

Raw material shortage, Covid-19 surge posing threat to West Bengal

Jute millers in West Bengal are keeping their fingers crossed as they apprehend that some units may down their shutters due to the prevailing shortage of raw materials and the second wave of the coronavirus outbreak could add to their woes, officials of an industry body said on Sunday.

 

Budge Budge jute mill has already announced a suspension of work, attributing problems in production with the raw material supply crunch, they said.

 

"There is a shortage of 5-7 lakh bales of raw jute in the system and the price is over Rs 8,000 a quintal. Production cut and closure of mills seem imminent post- election," Indian Jute Mills Association chairman Raghav Gupta told PTI.

6:33 PM

20 patients escape from Covid-19 care centre in Uttarakhand

Hoodwinking the authorities, 20 patients escaped from a COVID care centre at Narendra Nagar here, officials said on Sunday. The matter came to light when doctors visited the wards at the centres on Saturday night for a regular check-up, Chief Medical Superintendent Niraj Rai said.

 

Thirty-eight people were being treated there, of which 20 were found missing, said Chief Medical Officer Suman Arya. Two of those who escaped belonged to Uttarakhand while the rest were from outside the state, she said.

6:18 PM

Kerala reports 18,257 new Covid cases, 4,565 recoveries, and 25 deaths in past 24 hours

Kerala reports 18,257 new COVID19 cases, 4565 recoveries, and 25 deaths in past 24 hours. Death toll stands at 4929 while 11,40,486 patients have recovered, so far

6:15 PM

Railways to run 'Oxygen Express' to meet high demand amid surge in Covid-19 cases

The Railways will run 'Oxygen Express' over the next few days to transport liquid medical oxygen and oxygen cylinders across the country, the national transporter said on Sunday. Amid spiralling coronavirus cases in the country, the demand for medical oxygen in the country has gone through the roof.

 

Empty tankers will begin their journey from Kalamboli and Boisar railway stations in and near Mumbai on Monday to load liquid medical oxygen Vizag, Jamshedpur, Rourkela and Bokaro. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra state governments had earlier approached the Railways Ministry to explore whether liquid medical oxygen tankers could be moved by the rail network.

6:15 PM

Railways to run 'Oxygen Express' to meet high demand amid surge in COVID-19 cases

The Railways will run 'Oxygen Express' over the next few days to transport liquid medical oxygen and oxygen cylinders across the country, the national transporter said on Sunday. Amid spiralling coronavirus cases in the country, the demand for medical oxygen in the country has gone through the roof.

 

Empty tankers will begin their journey from Kalamboli and Boisar railway stations in and near Mumbai on Monday to load liquid medical oxygen Vizag, Jamshedpur, Rourkela and Bokaro. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra state governments had earlier approached the Railways Ministry to explore whether liquid medical oxygen tankers could be moved by the rail network.

5:36 PM

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee writes to PM Modi requesting supply of 54 mn more vaccine doses

As COVID-19 cases across the country continue to rise at an alarming rate, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Sunday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and requested the Centre for the supply of 5.4 crore more doses of COVID-19 vaccination, steady supply of Remdesivir and Tocilizumab medicines and supply of oxygen.

 

The Chief Minister said that the supply of vaccines from the Centre to the state had been 'scarce and erratic', which had negatively affected the vaccination program.

 

"While West Bengal is one of the best performers in vaccination, it is not suffering because of uncertainties of supply from end of the Government of India. We have to vaccinate around 2.7 crores and we need 5.4 crore doses," she wrote.

5:12 PM

Bed requirement for Covid-19 patients more than our capacity: Gujarat Deputy CM

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel on Sunday admitted that the present requirement of beds and other healthcare facilities in the wake of the spike in coronavirus cases is more than the state administrations's capacity.

 

Patel, who handles health portfolio, said though the state government is adding more facilities and beds at regular intervals to accomodate more patients, it fell short of demand.

4:59 PM

Police station in UP's Sambhal closed for 48 hours after seven personnel test Covid-19 positive

A police station in this Uttar Pradesh district had to be closed for 48 hours on Sunday after seven personnel posted there tested positive for COVID-19, a senior officer of the force said.

 

Superintendent of Police Chakresh Mishra said, "Seven personnel posted at the Hayatnagar police station tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. The test reports of the other policemen are yet to come. Complying with the coronavirus guidelines, the Hayatnagar police station has been closed for 48 hours. The police station is being sanitised."

 

He added that the work of the Hayatnagar police station is being carried out from the Sarai Tarin police station.