This Article is From Mar 19, 2021

Highlights: Maharashtra Reports Highest Daily Spike With 25,833 Covid Cases

India on Thursday recorded 35,871 new COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day rise in over 100 days, which took the infection tally to 1,14,74,605, according to Union health ministry data.

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PM Modi was speaking in Purulia ahead of the eight-phase Bengal election starting March 27.

New Delhi:

Maharashtra has logged 25,833 fresh cases of Covid over the last 24 hours - highest since the outbreak of the pandemic last year. In the same period, 58 deaths have taken place.

Yesterday, the Union health ministry said 60 per cent of the country's active Covid cases and 45.4 per cent of deaths are concentrated in Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, India on Thursday recorded 35,871 new COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day rise in over 100 days, which took the infection tally to 1,14,74,605, according to Union health ministry data.

Registering an increase for the eighth consecutive day, the active caseload reached 2,52,364, which accounts for 2.20 per cent of the total infections. The recovery rate further dropped to 96.41 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The death count increased to 1,59,216 with 172 new fatalities, it stated.

The single-day spike of 35,871 cases is the highest in 102 days. As many as 36,011 new infections were recorded on December 6.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,10,63,025, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.39 per cent, according to the data.

Here are the Highlights:

Mar 19, 2021 05:09 (IST)
Amid third COVID-19 wave, France to go into month-long lockdown from Friday

French Prime Minister Jean Castex on Thursday imposed a month-long lockdown in 16 areas of the country, including the greater Paris and Nice areas, in wake of rising COVID-19 cases.

The new measures will go into effect from Friday midnight lasting four weeks but are less restrictive than measures imposed in March and November of last year, reported CNN.

"Our choice, to be less restrictive on possibilities to leave one's home, will need to go hand in hand with real caution," PM Castex said.

"This is clearly about allowing for people to be outside, but not to go to friends'' homes to have a party or meet with many people without social distancing or a face mask. We know that it is in that kind of situation that the virus prospers," he added.
Mar 19, 2021 04:50 (IST)
COVID-19: Night curfew imposed in Amritsar

Amid surging COVID-19 cases, a night curfew has been imposed in Amritsar as a precautionary measure against the virus. The city reported 230 fresh cases of COVID-19 on March 18.

"The Chief Minister has ordered a curfew in the city between 11 pm and 5 am," said Assistant Commissioner of Police (Central) Parvesh Chopra.

Ahead of Holi celebrations, shopkeepers in Amritsar said their businesses are adversely affected due to rising cases of COVID-19.

Punjab reported 2,387 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, informed the state health department on Thursday.Meanwhile, Jalandhar District Collector Ghanshyam Thori and Ludhiana District Collector Varinder Sharna on Thursday imposed a night curfew in the respective districts from tonight. The curfew will remain imposed from 9 pm to 5 am until further orders.With the fresh COVID-19 cases, the total number of cases in the state now stands at 2,05,418.
Mar 19, 2021 04:32 (IST)
Women feeling unsafe under BJP govt in UP: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday alleged that women were feeling unsafe under the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh.

He said the Hathras incident has moved the entire world but no worthwhile step has been taken by the state government for the safety and security of women.

While talking to reporters in Vrindavan, Mr Yadav said the state government has "failed" to launch any new work in its four-year tenure. The projects launched during the SP regime are being re-inaugurated by the UP government, he alleged. 
Mar 19, 2021 03:52 (IST)
EU Countries To Resume AstraZeneca Vaccinations After "Safe, Effective" Verdict

Leading EU countries said Thursday they would resume AstraZeneca vaccinations after the European medical regulator said the jab is "safe and effective" and not associated with a higher blood clot risk after days of commotion around the shot. Read Here
Mar 19, 2021 02:59 (IST)
US to share 4 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine with Mexico, Canada

The United States plans to send roughly 4 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine that it is not using to Mexico and Canada in loan deals with the two countries, bowing to pressure to share vaccine with its allies.  

Mexico will receive 2.5 million doses of the vaccine and Canada is to receive 1.5 million doses, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. 

"It is not fully finalized yet but it is our aim," she told a daily briefing. 

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Mar 19, 2021 02:44 (IST)
Mauritius to receive consignment of Indian-made Covaxin

Mauritius will receive a consignment of Covaxin, India''s indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine, on Friday, announced the High Commission of India in Port Louis on Thursday.

Taking to Twitter, the High Commission said that India stands strong with Mauritius in the tough times, describing it as ''a time-tested and enduring partnership''.

"Mauritius arms itself with COVAXIN, India''s indigenously developed vaccine, in its fight against COVID19. India stands strong with Mauritius in these tough times. Consignment to arrive tomorrow. A time-tested and enduring partnership," tweeted India in Mauritius.

The Indian High Commission in Mauritius also said that Covaxin is effective against the UK variant and other heterologous strains.
Mar 19, 2021 02:29 (IST)
France to resume use of AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday: Prime Minister Jean Castex
France will resume using the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine from Friday afternoon, Prime Minister Jean Castex said, adding that he would be among those to receive the jab.

After suspending use of the shot on Monday, Castex said that France's health regulator would update its advice on Friday following an announcement by the EU's drug regulator that the vaccine was "safe and effective."

"I will get myself vaccinated with this vaccine to show that we can have complete confidence in it," Castex told a press conference on Thursday.
Mar 19, 2021 02:19 (IST)
Mar 19, 2021 01:41 (IST)
Attention should be paid to social distancing, use of masks in view of festivals ahead: Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has given instructions to remain vigilant in view of Covid-19 and said that full attention should be paid to social distancing and use of masks in view of the festivals ahead.

He said that the increase in the rate of coronavirus infection in many states is a warning to all. He has also given instructions to maintain an effective system of prevention and treatment of coronavirus in the state to control the infection.

According to a press statement, the Chief Minister was reviewing the unlock process at a high-level meeting convened at Lok Bhawan here today. He said that the coronavirus testing work should be conducted at full capacity. At least 45 pc of the total Covid tests conducted by various methods should be done daily with the RT-PCR method.
Mar 19, 2021 01:30 (IST)
Commercial establishments to close in Sikkim by 10 pm as part of measures against COVID-19

In view of the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the country, the Sikkim Government has taken measures to prevent its spread and issued directions that all commercial establishments will close by 10 pm every day.

A state government release said on Thursday that there shall be no movement of vehicles after 10.30 pm till 6 am except for emergency purposes.

This restriction shall not apply to commercial goods vehicles including LCVs and vehicles on emergency duty.

"All commercial establishments including restaurants, bars, night clubs, discos, pubs, gyms shall close by 10 pm every day. However, this shall not apply to in-house guests staying in the hotels," the release said.
Mar 19, 2021 01:15 (IST)
Nearly 4.40 lakh vaccinated against COVID-19 so far in J&K

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday said nearly 4.40 lakh people have so far been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the Union Territory with no reported case of extreme adverse events.

This was conveyed by officials at a meeting of the Union Territory's steering committee, chaired by Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, to review the progress of the COVID-19 vaccination drive.

"A total of 4,39,910 people have been vaccinated in Jammu and Kashmir with no reported case of extreme adverse events," Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Atal Dulloo said.

He said 77 per cent of the healthcare workers, 78 per cent of the frontline workers and 12.28 per cent of the elderly population and patients with comorbidities have been inoculated.

Dulloo said arrangements have been put in place for on-the-spot registration and administration of the vaccine to the remaining healthcare workers and frontline workers.
Mar 19, 2021 01:05 (IST)
South Delhi Municipal Corporation requests DJB not to seal borewells in parks

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation has written to the city''s water board, requesting not seal borewells in parks till the project of laying of pipes gets completed, officials said.

South Delhi Mayor Anamika said the civic agency also requested Delhi Jal Board to allow watering of parks from its existing system.

The SDMC has written a letter to DJB, requesting it to "not seal borewells in parks, as the move will result in drying of parks and permanent damage to the environment", she said.

The mayor said the corporation has urged the DJB to file an application before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for extension of time for sealing of borewells till the project of laying of pipes gets completed.

The mayor said the DJB had been sealing the borewells of different parks under the jurisdiction of the SDMC citing an order of the NGT.
Mar 18, 2021 23:35 (IST)
Sure He Will Be Part Of Our Team: Amarinder Singh On Navjot Singh Sidhu
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Thursday expressed confidence that Navjot Singh Sidhu will be back in his Cabinet, nearly two years after the cricketer-turned-politician quit the government after being divested of a key portfolio.
Mar 18, 2021 23:03 (IST)
Around 50 lakh people returned to India under Vande Bharat Mission
Around 50 lakh people have returned to India under Vande Bharat Mission (VBM) as on March 10, 2021, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Ministry of External Affairs said that it has incurred Rs 33.5 crores (as on December 31, 2020) to assist Indian nationals in distress to bring them to India under the Vande Bharat Mission.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday had said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government has been "deeply committed to the welfare and protection of Indians abroad" from the beginning of the crisis created by COVID-19.
Mar 18, 2021 22:51 (IST)
COVID-19: 1,488 new cases in Karnataka, 8 deaths
Karnataka has added over 1,488 fresh infections to its coronavirus tally, taking the total
positives to 9.65 lakh while the count rose to 12,415 with 8 related fatalities, the Health department said on Thursday.

This is for the third consecutive day that the state is reporting over 1,000 new cases.

The day also saw 341 patients getting discharged after recovery.

Out of the 1,488 fresh cases reported on Thursday, 925 were from Bengaluru Urban alone.

As of March 18 evening, cumulatively 9,65,102 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 12,415 deaths and 9,41,309 discharges, the Health department said in its bulletin.

(PTI)
Mar 18, 2021 22:33 (IST)
Rajasthan reports 327 new COVID-19 cases, three deaths
Rajasthan reported 327 new COVID-19 cases and three fatalities on Thursday, pushing the state's infection tally to 3,24,101 and the death toll to 2,794.

According to a health department bulletin, 3,023 people are undergoing treatment in the state for the disease.

The number of people discharged after recovering from the disease stands at 3,18,284, it said.

So far, 519 have died in Jaipur, 308 in Jodhpur, 222 in Ajmer, 169 in Kota, 167 in Bikaner, 120 in Bharatpur, 124 in Udaipur, 109 in Pali and 101 in Sikar, the bulletin said.

Of the new cases, 81 were in Jaipur, 34 each in Kota and Rajsamand, 32 in Udaipur and 18 in Ajmer.

(PTI)
Mar 18, 2021 22:30 (IST)
Delhi Coronavirus: 607 Covid Cases In A Day In Delhi, Highest In Around 2.5 Months
Delhi on Thursday recorded 607 new COVID-19 cases, the highest in about two-and-a-half months, while one more fatality pushed the death count to 10,949, the Health Department said.
Mar 18, 2021 22:19 (IST)
Over 1,200 new coronavirus cases in Gujarat
Gujarat reported 1,276 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, which took its overall tally to
2,82,449, the state health department said.

The daily case count in the state has risen from 480 to over 1,200 in just two weeks' time.

Even as the state is witnessing a sudden spike in daily cases, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Thursday said his government is not mulling imposing a total lockdown.

"There is no need to panic. We had faced similar situations in the past too. We are not mulling imposing any lockdown as of now," he told reporters in Gandhinagar.

Two patients died due to the infection in Ahmedabad and one in Surat city during the day, which took the state's death count to 4,433.

(PTI)
Mar 18, 2021 22:10 (IST)
Tamil Nadu records 989 new COVID-19 infections, nine fatalities
Tamil Nadu saw a new high of daily coronavirus cases with 989 people contracting the contagion,
pushing the caseload to 8.63 lakh while nine more deaths took the count to 12,573, the health department said on Thursday.

The state's daily count of infections stayed above 500 mark since March 5.

Recoveries were lesser with 569 patients being discharged, taking the cumulative to 8,44,568 leaving 6,222 active cases, a health bulletin said.

Chennai accounted for most of the new infections with 394 cases being reported, aggregating 2,40,245 till date.

The metropolis also leads in the number of fatalities with 4,190.

All the nine victims were ailing with pre-existing comorbidity.

(PTI)
Mar 18, 2021 22:04 (IST)
Maharashtra Chief Minister calls for strict implementation of COVID-19 norms, curbs
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday asked divisional commissioners to ensure that restrictions announced to curb the spread of COVID-19 are implemented strictlyin view of the spike in the number of infection cases.

In a virtual meeting, Mr Thackeray said even though the state is witnessing a steep spike in the number of daily cases, the vaccination drive has also gained momentum.

"In view of the highest number of cases on Thursday since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, the district administration should speed up contact tracing and implementation of restrictions and safety protocols," he said.

Mr Thackeray said administering three lakh vaccine doses daily should be the target.

Considering the rising heat, facilities like drinking water and toilets should be provided at the vaccination centres, he said.

(PTI)



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