COVID-19 in India: The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from June 21, 2021
India reported 45,083 new Covid cases in the past 24 hours, slightly lower than yesterday's 46,759, taking the total infections to over 3.26 crore. 460 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours taking the total fatalities to over 4.37 lakhs so far.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday said that 60,25,95,250 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been provided to states and union territories so far through the direct state procurement category The ministry further said that 1,51,58,650 vaccine doses are in the pipeline.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 containment measures will remain in force across the country till September 30, 2021, said the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday.
Here are highlights on Coronavirus Cases:
Kodaikanal hill station reopens for tourists following COVID-19 protocols
Kodaikanal, queen of western ghats on Sunday opened for tourists after four months in the wake of the relaxation of COVID-19 norms by the Tamil Nadu government.
The hilltowns on the slopes of Sahyadri was closed for tourists due to mounting coronavirus threat.
Aakash, a tourist told ANI, "I wanted to visit this place for a long time. It is pretty safe around here. Police are checking vaccination certificates, masks, and sanitizers."
Ranganathan, a tourist who came for boating, said, "I am coming from Madhurai. They are having RT-PCR tests at the entrance. Everything is safe and sanitized over here," said.
COVID-19: Kerala records 29,836 new infections, 75 deaths
Kerala confirmed 29,836 new Covid-19 infections on Sunday, the state health ministry department said in a bulletin. The spike in cases came even as the state observed a complete lockdown on Sunday
With the 75 deaths, the COVID deaths of the state rose to 20,541. The test positivity rate is 19.67 per cent was recorded out of 1,51,670 samples were tested during the last 24 hours.
At present, 22,088 recoveries were reported in the last 24 hours, with 2,12,566 in treatment and a total number of recoveries in the state now stand at 37,73,754.
According to the health department, Kerala also reported Covid cases to district wise Thrissur reported 3965, Kozhikode 3548, Malappuram 3190, Ernakulam 3178, Palakkad 2816, Kollam 2266, Thiruvananthapuram 2150, Kottayam 1830, Kannur 1753, Alappuzha 1498, Pathanamthitta 1178, Wayanad 1002, Idukki 962 and Kasaragod 500.
Assam reports 4 new deaths, 293 fresh COVID-19 cases
Assam reported four deaths due to COVID-19 on Sunday, while 293 more people tested positive, pushing the state's infection tally to 5,88,318, the National Health Mission said.
The latest fatalities were reported from Cachar, Hojai, Kamrup Metropolitan and Udalguri districts. The state's Covid deaths stand at 5,640 persons.
According to the National Health Mission (NHM), 1,347 more COVID-19 patients have died till now, but the government's Death Audit Board has not included them in the tally of deaths caused by COVID-19 virus as they had other ailments too.
With detection of 293 patients against testing of 39,337 samples on Sunday, Assam has reported a positivity rate of 0.74 per cent for the day, the NHM daily bulletin said.
Punjab records 40 more COVID-19 cases, 3 deathsPunjab reported three more Covid-related deaths and 40 fresh cases, taking the overall figures to 16,369 fatalities and 6,00,551 infections, according to a medical bulletin. The three fatalities were reported from Ferozepur, Mohali and Tarn Taran districts.
Among the new COVID-19 cases, Bathinda reported nine, followed by six each in Amritsar and Hoshiarpur. The number of active cases in the state dropped to 392 from 405 Saturday.
One more Covid death, 11 fresh cases in HaryanaHaryana reported one more COVID-19-related fatality on Sunday, taking the death count to 9,674, while 11 new cases pushed the infection count to 7,70,456. According to the health department's daily bulletin, the latest death was reported from Jhajjar district.
Among the new cases, two were reported from Gurgaon and three from Yamunanagar district. The total active cases in the state stands at 646.
Maharashtra wants to vaccinate school staff against COVID-19 by September 5: State Health MinisterMaharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said the state government plans to fully vaccinate all teaching and non-teaching staff against COVID-19 by September 5, and this would be the first step towards reopening of schools. The minister said a special drive was being conducted for this, adding that a state task force was of the view that schools in districts where there were no positive cases can be reopened.
Goa records 74 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths
Goa's COVID-19 tally went up by 74 on Sunday to reach 1,73,791, while the day also saw two deaths, which took the count to 3,195, an official said. The recovery count in the state rose by 79 and reached 1,69,651, leaving the state with 945 active cases, he said. With 5,694 samples being examined in the last 24 hours, the number of tests in Goa went up to 11,99,547, he added.
Andhra Pradesh adds over 1,500 new Covid casesThe cumulative coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh climbed to 20,12,123 with the addition of 1,557 fresh positives. The gross recoveries went up to 19,83,119 as 1,213 infected persons got cured in 24 hours ending 9 am on Sunday. A health department bulletin said 18 more people succumbed to COVID-19 in 24 hours, pushing the total count up to 13,825.
Uttar Pradesh reports 2 more Covid deaths, 14 new casesWith two new COVID-19 deaths reported from the state, the count due to the viral disease in Uttar Pradesh rose to 22,818 as the total cases of infection touched 17,09,248 with 14 new ones.
One death each occurred in Mathura and Allahabad, the UP government said in a statement on Sunday. Of the 14 new COVID-19 cases, Lucknow and Varanasi reported two each.
The total count of active COVID-19 cases in the state stands at 265, the statement said.
Odisha Launches Sero Survey
The Odisha government has launched a state-level serological survey. Regional Medical Research Centre of ICMR has been asked to conduct the exercise in 12 districts. The exercise will be conducted in Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Khurda, Puri, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Nabarangpur till September 15.
166 Children Among 880 New Covid Patients In Mizoram
At least 880 more people, including 166 children, tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram in the last 24 hours, pushing the tally to 57,522, a health department official said on Sunday.
Kerala Reports Over 30,000 Covid Cases For 4th Straight Day
Kerala has been reporting over 30,000 cases for four days straight with 31,265 infections on Saturday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the prime objective of the government was to save the lives of the maximum number of people in the pandemic and added that the state's Case Fatality Rate was below the national average.
45,083 Coronavirus Cases In India, 3.5% Lower Than Yesterday
India reported 45,083 new Covid cases in the past 24 hours, slightly lower than yesterday's 46,759, taking the total infections to over 3.26 crore. 460 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours taking the total fatalities to over 4.37 lakhs so far.
COVID curbs extended in West Bengal till September 15
The West Bengal government on Saturday extended COVID-19 restrictions in the state till September 15, with an additional relaxation allowing coaching centres to operate with 50 per cent capacity from next month.
The restrictions, imposed on May 16, were last extended till August 31.
"Coaching centres for competitive examinations may remain open with 50 per cent capacity", provided the premises are sanitised regularly and other COVID-19 norms are adhered to.
"Wearing of masks, maintenance of physical distance and health and hygiene protocol must be followed at all times," an order issued by the government said.
The state has earlier allowed public buses, taxis, auto rickshaws to operate with 50 per cent occupancy.
Offices, both government and private, have also been given permission to function with half the manpower.
Assam logs 586 new COVID-19 cases, 9 fresh fatalities
Assam's COVID-19 tally rose to 5,88,025 on Saturday as 586 more people tested positive for the infection, while nine fresh fatalities pushed the state's coronavirus deaths to 5,636, a health bulletin said.
Kamrup Metropolitan district registered the highest number of new cases at 123, followed by Golaghat (71) and Barpeta and Jorhat (36 each).
Four fresh fatalities were recorded in Barpeta, while Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Kamrup Metro, Kamrup Rural and Nagaon reported one death each.
The state now has 6,087 active cases, while 5,74,955 people have recovered from the disease so far, including 675 in the last 24 hours, it said, adding that the recovery rate stood at 97.78 per cent.