A total of 1.08 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered till now with 1.86 lakh jabs given today, the Union Health Ministry said. Of the 1,08,38,323 doses administered, Joint Secretary in the Union Health ministry Mandeep Bhandari said 72,26,653 vaccination doses were administered to healthcare workers and 36,11,670 to frontline workers whose inoculation started on February 2. Of the 70,52,845 vaccination doses, 63,52,713 healthcare workers were administered the first dose while 8,73,940 healthcare workers were administered the second dose.
Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have recorded an "upsurge" in daily new cases of COVID-19, the Union Health Ministry said. In a statement, the ministry said in the last seven days, Chhattisgarh has also seen a rise in daily active new cases. In the last 24 hours, 259 daily new cases have been reported, it said.
Kerala continues to report a high number of daily new cases and in the past week, Maharashtra has exhibited a spike in the number of daily new cases, accounting for the highest number of daily new cases in the country on Saturday, the ministry said in the statement.
Daily COVID-19 cases in the country climbed to about 14,000 after nearly 22 days taking India's tally to 1,09,77,387, while the recoveries surged to 1,06,78,048, according to Union Health Ministry data updated this morning. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,06,78,048 which translates to a national recovery rate of 97.27 per cent and the case fatality rate stands at 1.42 per cent. The COVID-19 active caseload remained below 1.5 lakh.
Here are the Highlights:
Lockdown and restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC have been imposed in some parts of Maharashtra. Officers didn't give us permission to hold meetings due to rising cases of COVID-19, that is why we couldn't go there: BKU leader Rakesh Tikait pic.twitter.com/2pbYjPb0Pg
- ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2021
Herd immunity for coronavirus is a "myth" in India because at least 80 per cent people need to have antibodies for the whole of the population to be protected, Dr Randeep Guleria told NDTV today. This, he said, would be difficult if one takes into account the new Indian strains found in Maharashtra -- which could be highly transmissible and dangerous. The new variant, he said, can even cause re-infections in people who have developed anti-bodies to the virus.
Goa: Mahila Congress workers held a protest over LPG gas price rise, in Panaji earlier today. pic.twitter.com/Y79lJuwcWf
- ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2021
If the surge in daily coronavirus figures is not stemmed and people don't follow Covid protocols, Mumbai may have to face another lockdown, Mayor Kishori Pednekar has said. The warning comes a day after Maharashtra reported over 6,000 Covid cases.
For frontline workers, a total of 36,11,670 vaccinations has been done till date.
1,08,38,323 total #COVID vaccination conducted till Feb 20, 6pm. Of which, vaccination of the healthcare workers is 72,26,653. The first dose has been given to 63,52,713 and the second dose has been given to 8,73,940 beneficiaries: Union Health Ministry pic.twitter.com/SHPalU7vmh
- ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2021
Andhra Pradesh reported 54 new COVID-19 cases and 70 recoveries in the last 24 hours, as per State Health Department
- ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2021
Total cases: 8,89,210
Total recoveries: 8,81,439
Active cases: 604
Death toll: 7,167 (no death in last 24 hours)
The Delhi Court has reserved an order on bail plea of climate activist Disha Ravi in the Toolkit case. The order will now be passed on February 23.
The online "toolkit", cited by the Delhi police to accuse three persons of sedition over the past few days, was merely a "resource document", environment activist Disha Ravi today told a Delhi court while moving her bail plea.
A total of 1305 buildings sealed in Mumbai after 2749 #COVID19 cases reported. 71,838 households residing in these sealed buildings: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) pic.twitter.com/RTaoWhhPK8
- ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2021
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said fuel prices have been increasing for 11 days and the common man is suffering as a result of "wrong" economic policies of the Centre.
In a series of tweets, Mr Gehlot targeted the Centre and cleared his stand on the rumours that Rajasthan levies highest tax on fuel prices.
"The Modi government imposes excise duty of Rs 32.90 on petrol and Rs 31.80 per litre on diesel. Whereas during the UPA government in 2014 there was an excise duty of only Rs 9.20 on petrol and just Rs 3.46 on diesel. The Modi government should reduce excise duty in the interest of the public without delay," he tweeted in Hindi.
"We, as governments, have to provide private sectors opportunities to take part in the mission of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India)," he said at the meeting, which was attended by Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors of states and Union Territories.
The Congress in Madhya Pradesh is observing a half-day statewide ''bandh'' on Saturday to protest against the rising petrol and diesel prices.
Former chief minister Kamal Nath appealed to the people of the state to cooperate and make the shutdown a success.
"Today Madhya Pradesh will observe bandh till 2 pm. People are in distress due to skyrocketing prices of diesel and petrol. The government is busy collecting revenue and it is least bothered about giving relief to the public," Kamal Nath said.
With 13,993 fresh cases, India's COVID-19 tally has climbed to 1,09,77,387, while the number of recoveries has surged to 1,06,78,048, the Union health ministry said on Saturday.