COVID-19 Cases in India: The daily positivity rate was recorded as 0.41 per cent (File)
India will start vaccinating children aged 12 to 14 years from March 16 as it expands its COVID-19 vaccination coverage, the government said today. The condition of co-morbidity for people aged 60 and above to get a precautionary dose has also been removed. Everyone in that age category can now take booster shots.
India saw a further dip in daily COVID-19 cases as 2,503 new infections were recorded, the lowest since May, 2020, while the active cases dipped to 36,168, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.
With the fresh cases, the total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,29,93,494.
The death count climbed to 5,15,877 with 27 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The active cases comprise 0.08 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate further improved to 98.72 per cent, the ministry said.
A reduction of 1,901 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The number of cases is the lowest since May 4, 2020.
Here are the LIVE Updates on Coronavirus Cases In India:
35 new COVID-19 cases, one more death in BengalThirty-five new COVID-19 cases were reported in Bengal on Monday, which raised the tally to 20,16,473, a bulletin released by the health department said.
One more death pushed the count to 21,188, the bulletin said.
At least 121 people recuperated from the viral disease in the past 24 hours, which tokk the total recoveries in the state 19,93,920.
Bengal currently has 1,365 active cases.
Delhi adds 136 COVID-19 casesDelhi on Monday recorded 136 fresh COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 0.56 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department.
With this, the national capital's case count increased to 18,63,070, the health bulletin stated.
The death toll remained unchanged at 26,141.
The number of COVID-19 tests conducted the previous day stood at 24,152, the bulletin said.
On Sunday, the national capital had reported 132 COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 0.38 per cent, and no death.
Four new cases push Nagaland’s COVID-19 tally to 35,451Nagaland on Monday reported four fresh COVID-19 infections, pushing the tally at 35,451, a health department official said.
The state had not reported any coronavirus case on Sunday.
For the tenth day in a row, the COVID-19 death count remained at 757, he said.
At least six persons recuperated from the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 33,155, the official said.
Maharashtra logs 157 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death, 298 recoveriesMaharashtra on Monday reported 157 new coronavirus cases and one fresh death linked to the disease, while 298 more patients recovered from the infection, the state health department said.
With this, the state's overall tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 78,71,359, while the death toll increased to 1,43,753, the department said in a bulletin.
Generally, Maharashtra registers fewer COVID-19 cases on Mondays due to a low number of COVID-19 tests conducted over the weekends.
As per the bulletin, the number of recovered cases in Maharashtra increased to 77,21,220 after 298 patients were discharged during the day, leaving the state with 2,382 active cases.
67 new COVID-19 cases in TelanganaTelangana on Monday reported 67 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the tally to 7,90,418, while no fresh fatality due to the infectious disease was reported as the death count stood at 4,111.
A health department bulletin said 152 people recuperated from the infection and the cumulative number of recoveries till date was 7,85,442. The recovery rate in the state was 99.35 per cent.
Nashik sees 3 COVID-19 cases, no deathThe COVID-19 tally in Nashik touched 4,75,954 on Monday after three cases were detected, while the death toll remained unchanged at 8,899, an official said.
So far, 4,66,956 people have been discharged post recovery, including 13 during the day, leaving the district with 99 active cases, he said.
Kerala records 809 fresh COVID-19 cases, 78 deathsKerala on Monday recorded 809 fresh COVID-19 infections which raised the total caseload to 65,21,907 so far.
The southern State reported 78 deaths and took the tally to 66,886 till date, according to an official press release.
Of the 78, seven occurred in the last few days but were not recorded due to late receipt of documents and 71 were designated as COVID-19 deaths after receiving appeals based on the new guidelines of the Centre and the directions of the Supreme Court, the release said.
No fresh COVID-19 cases, fatalities in PuducherryThe union territory of Puducherry did not register any fresh coronavirus cases and related fatalities in the last 24 hours, a senior Health department official said on Monday.
The overall COVID-19 tally stood at 1,65,759, Director of Health G Sriramulu said in a release here. The department tested 43 samples during the last 24 hours ending 10 AM Monday.
The number of active cases fell to 16, he said, adding all the patients were in home quarantine.
The overall recoveries went up to 1,63,781 after one patient recovered during the last 24 hours, the Health department Director said.
Odisha Covid cases lowest in a yearOdisha recorded on Monday the lowest single-day coronavirus cases in a year as 68 people tested positive, while four more patients, including a teenager, succumbed to the pathogen, the Health Department said.
A 14-year-old girl in Sundargarh district was among the new fatalities. There are 851 active COVID-19 cases and 110 patients recovered in the previous day, according to a bulletin.
On March 16 last year, the cases were lower than the current single-day count when there were 65 infections. The state had logged 86 cases and three fatalities on Sunday.
No fresh COVID-19 cases, fatalities in Puducherry
The union territory of Puducherry did not register any fresh coronavirus cases and related fatalities in the last 24 hours, a senior Health department official said on Monday.
The overall COVID-19 tally stood at 1,65,759, Director of Health G Sriramulu said in a release here. The department tested 43 samples during the last 24 hours ending 10 AM Monday.
The number of active cases fell to 16, he said, adding all the patients were in home quarantine.
The overall recoveries went up to 1,63,781 after one patient recovered during the last 24 hours, the Health department Director said.
Vaccines For 12-14 Age Group From Wednesday, Boosters For All Above 60
India will start vaccinating children aged 12 to 14 years from March 16 as it expands its COVID-19 vaccination coverage, the government said today. The condition of co-morbidity for people aged 60 and above to get a precautionary dose has also been removed. Everyone in that age category can now take booster shots.
Over 17.38 crore unutilized COVID-19 vaccine doses still available with States, UTs: CentreThe Union Health Ministry on Monday informed that more than 17.38 crore balance and unutilized COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with States and Union Territories to be administered.
"More than 182.79 crore (1,82,79,40,230) vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far through Govt. of India (free of cost channel) and through direct state procurement category.
More than 17.38 crore (17,38,21,446) balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered," informed an official statement by the ministry.
Two fresh COVID-19 cases reported in Ladakh
Ladakh reported two new coronavirus cases on Monday, taking the overall virus tally to 28,177, officials said.
The number of active cases in the union territory dropped to 60 with the recovery of seven patients in Leh, they said.
According to the officials, there was no COVID-related death in the region, which has so far recorded 228 fatalities linked to the pandemic since its outbreak.
Of the total fatalities, Leh district accounts for the highest 168 deaths among 22,904 cases followed by 60 deaths in Kargil which had recorded a total of 5,273 cases.
Supreme Court expresses concern over misuse of Covid compensationSupreme Court expresses concern over misuse of Covid compensation for Covid-related deathsm suggesting that it may direct probe by CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India).
The court has asked the Centre to file detailed application on issue of fake claims.
No fresh COVID-19 case in Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Andaman and Nicobar Islands did not record a single fresh COVID-19 case for the last five days, a health department official said on Monday.
The virus tally of the archipelago remained at 10,025.
The union territory now has only one active COVID-19 case, while 9,895 people have recovered from the disease so far, he said.
Active cases comprise 0.08 per cent of the total infections
The active cases comprise 0.08 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate further improved to 98.72 per cent, the ministry said.
A reduction of 1,901 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The number of cases is the lowest since May 4, 2020.
Arunachal Pradesh registers single COVID-19 case, tally at 64,482
Arunachal Pradesh reported one new COVID-19 case on Monday, pushing the tally to 64,482, a senior health official said. The fresh case was reported from West Kameng district, the official said.
The COVID-19 death toll in the frontier state remained at 296 as no new fatality was reported in the past 24 hours, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa said.
15 new COVID-19 cases in Thane, no death
With the addition of 15 new cases of coronavirus, the infection count in Maharashtra's Thane district has gone up to 7,08,615, an official said on Monday.
These new cases were reported on Sunday, he said.
Major Chinese cities impose COVID-19 restriction as cases spikeAmid a rapid resurgence of COVID-19 cases in China, two of the country's biggest cities, Shenzhen and Shanghai, have imposed strict virus measures.
The recent spike in coronavirus cases has led to allowing rapid antigen tests for public use and resulted in the dismissal of senior officials for their slack response to the ongoing health crisis. The latest spike, described as the severest COVID-19 outbreaks in two years, has forced several major cities to go into lockdowns.
Barack Obama Tests Positive For Covid, Encourages VaccinesBarack Obama has tested positive for a mild case of Covid-19, the former US president said on his Twitter account Sunday.
"I've had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise," Obama tweeted, adding that his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, has so far tested negative.
"Michelle and I are grateful to be vaccinated and boosted," he wrote.
Obama, plus fellow former presidents Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton -- and the former first ladies -- appeared together in a one-minute video released last March, endorsing the US vaccination campaign and sharing what they missed about pre-pandemic life.