New Delhi: The total number of cases with the UK, South Africa and Brazil variants of SARS-CoV-2 in the country has reached 795, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday as India is witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases. From 400 cases reported on March 18, the infections by mutant strains have increased to 795 in the country.
Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey told Rajya Sabha on March 16 that no case of reinfection by mutant variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus has been reported from India so far.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in the three countries where the pandemic is being driven by the variant mutants of SARS-CoV-2 virus, namely the UK, South Africa and Brazil, the South African and Brazilian variants have the potential to reinfect persons who have been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, he said in a written reply.
In one of the biggest news of the days so far, the Supreme Court refused to extend the six-month loan moratorium period offered by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) last year, saying that it is 'policy decision' on the part of the Centre and RBI. The bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said the top court cannot do judicial review of the centre's financial policy decisions unless they are malafide and arbitrary.
In other big developments, India recorded 40,715 fresh cases of coronavirus taking the tally to 1,16,86,796 cases, the government data this morning showed. 199 deaths in the last 24 hours took the total number of deaths since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,60,166 deaths.
Yesterday, the country saw 46,951 fresh infections, the biggest single-day spike since early November. Several parts in the country are witnessing a second Covid wave with authorities putting back restrictions in place to control the spread of virus.
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Mar 24, 2021 05:13 (IST)
Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, P Chidambaram Among Congress' Star Campaigners In Tamil Nadu
Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and former Union Minister P Chidambaram are among the star campaigners who will campaign for the party ahead of the Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, reported news agency ANI.
The list of 30-star campaigners submitted to the Election Commission of India has names of party leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Manish Tiwari and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah among many others.
Regional leaders like Tamil Nadu Congress president KS Alagiri and MPs A Chellakumar and Manickam Tagore have also been included in the list.
Mar 24, 2021 01:55 (IST)
Telangan Congress Leader Revanth Reddy Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Telangana Congress Working President Revanth Reddy on Tuesday announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19, reported news agency ANI.
In a tweet on Tuesday, Mr Reddy stated that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and that he has isolated himself on the advice of doctors.
He further appealed to all who have been in close contact with him for the past few days to take necessary precautions.
"I have been tested positive for Covid and isolated myself on doctor's advice. Whoever has been in contact from the past few days, please take necessary precautions...," he tweeted.
Mar 24, 2021 01:53 (IST)
Punjab To Install Solar Panels In 183 Primary Schools: Minister
To reduce the cost of electricity in government schools of the state, the Punjab government will install 3KW solar panels in 183 primary schools at a cost of Rs. 2.74 crore, reported news agency ANI.
Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla said that the Education Department is making continuous efforts to further strengthen the infrastructure in the government primary schools.
He said that solar energy projects were being set up in 3,214 schools at a cost of Rs. 97.55 crore.
According to an official release, 183 more government primary schools of Ferozepur district will get solar energy with this new initiative.
Mar 24, 2021 01:51 (IST)
COVID-19 Vaccination: India Crosses 5 Crore-Mark
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 5 crore mark on March 23, said Union Health Ministry on Tuesday, reported news agency ANI.
According to a press release, a total of 5,00,75,162 vaccine doses have been given so far, as per the provisional report till 7 pm today.
The Health Ministry further said that these numbers include 79,03,068 healthcare workers who have taken the first dose and 50,09,252 health care workers who have taken the 2nd dose, 83,33,713 front line workers (first dose), 30,60,060 front line workers (second dose), 2,12,03,700 beneficiaries more than 60 years old and 45,65,369 beneficiaries aged 45 and above with specific co-morbidities.
Mar 24, 2021 01:45 (IST)
Jharkhand Steps Up Security In Districts Sharing Borders With Bengal Ahead Of Polls
As Bengal gears up for Assembly elections in the state, Jharkhand police have stepped up security and put in place necessary precautions in districts bordering the poll-bound state to tackle any possible Naxal violence, reported news agency ANI.
"A border coordination meeting has been held at various levels. Special strategies made with interstate coordination against any possible Naxal activities during West Bengal elections. Tight vigil at the border is being ensured and security will be monitored by drones too," said Jharkhand Police.
Police superintendents of the seven districts of Jharkhand - Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Jamtara, Dhanbad, Sahebganj and Pakur - which share borders with West Bengal, have been instructed to take all precautionary measures in their respective districts.
