As many as 14,264 new coronavirus cases - 1.9 per cent higher than yesterday - and 90 deaths, said the health ministry on Sunday morning. 13,993 new cases were reported on Saturday. With the news cases, the coronavirus tally in the country has reached 1,09,91,651 including 1,45,634 active cases and 1,06,89,715 discharges. The death count has mounted to 1,56,302 with the loss of 90 more lives due to the virus in the last 24 hours.
As per the Health Ministry, 1,08,38,323 vaccine doses have been given through 2,29,462 sessions till Saturday evening.
"This includes 63,52,713 health care workers who have taken the first dose 8,73,940 health care workers who have taken the second dose, along with 36,11,670 frontline workers who were administered the first dose," it said.
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.
Here are the Highlights:
Maharashtra: People flout social distancing norms at Sitabuldi main road in Nagpur today. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/EgL1bRqMi0
- ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2021
A Mongolian Airlines flight departed from Mumbai for Mongolia with made in India COVID-19 vaccines earlier today pic.twitter.com/fc2rOlF4VY
- ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2021
Americans may still need to wear masks in 2022 even as the country relaxes other restrictions to combat COVID-19, Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said.
Coronil, a medicine that claims to boost immunity against COVID-19, developed by yoga guru Ramdev-promoted Patanjali Ayurved has run into a controversy over claims of certification.
Maharashtra reported 6,971 new COVID-19 cases, 2,417 recoveries, and 35 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per State Health Department
- ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2021
Total cases: 21,00,884
Total recoveries: 19,94,947
Death toll: 51,788
Active cases: 52,956 pic.twitter.com/ZLCfoLiWWP
Britain has started to drive down cases of the more infectious South African variant of coronavirus and will only emerge from lockdown in stages to make sure that does not change, the country's health secretary said on Sunday.
Variants of the novel coronavirus carrying two specific mutations in their spike protein may evade antibodies and make vaccines less effective, according to eminent virologist Shahid Jameel, who says the need of the hour is to improve surveillance for "homegrown" lineages of the virus.
Australia begins its Covid-19 vaccine rollout, with top officials among a small group receiving the first jabs a day before the programme starts in earnest. Prime Minister Scott Morrison gets the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at a medical centre in Sydney's northwest, in what the government says is a bid to boost public confidence in the vaccinations.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concerns over the rising fuel prices in the country and saying that the government has chosen to profit from "people's misery and suffering."
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday called on Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and reaffirmed India's fullest commitment as a comprehensive development partner of the island nation during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Due to continuous heavy rainfall, all private and government schools will remain closed on 22nd February for students of classes 1 to 9: Puducherry Education Department
- ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2021
The Health Secretary in a letter to StateD said: "A large number of Health Care Workers (HCWs) and Front Line Workers (FLWs) still remain to be covered and the progress is variable across several States/UTs The pace of vaccination drive and its coverage needs to be accelerated exponentially to cover all identified beneficiaries in a minimum possible time."
The operational strategy for initiating the vaccination of the next priority group of the elderly population and persons with co-morbidities to be taken up from March 21 is also being finalised.
Speaking at the launch of his new book ''Because India Comes First'', Mr Madhav said democracy is stressed and facing new challenges with the rise of "non-political" and "non-state" forces.
Delhi: Meeting between CM Arvind Kejriwal and farmer leaders from Uttar Pradesh underway at Vidhan Sabha pic.twitter.com/JnJUBf5npc
- ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2021
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), rain and thunderstorm were observed from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm on Saturday at few places in Tamilnadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal.
"Isolated thunderstorm and lightning very likely over Puducherry during next 24 hours," said IMD in its daily weather bulletin today.
The department also predicted light to moderate rainfall at isolated or scattered places in Puducherry during the next two days.
From 11pm to 6am, no public movement will be allowed except for those involved in essential services, in view of rising COVID19 cases. Schools & colleges in the district will remain closed till 28 Feb. New guidelines to be effective from tomorrow: Pune Divisional Commissioner pic.twitter.com/F7iZFTcn0j
- ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2021
Voting is currently underway for elections to six municipal corporations in Gujarat Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar.
Uttarakhand: State Disaster Response Force drops Quick Deployable Antenna (QDA) system for communication near the lake formed in the upper reaches of Chamoli district pic.twitter.com/Vf5P38lILU
- ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2021
COVID19 | More than 74% of the active cases are in Kerala and Maharashtra. There has been a spike in the daily cases in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh also. Punjab and J&K too are witnessing a surge in daily new cases: Health Ministry
- ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2021
The coronavirus caseload remained at 16,836, State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said.
Arunachal Pradesh currently has five active COVID-19 cases, while 16,775 people have recovered from the disease so far, he said.
The COVID-19 recovery rate in the state has touched 99.63 per cent, while the positivity ratio stands at 0.02 per cent and the fatality rate at 0.33 per cent, the official said.
Voting for the local body elections in Gujarat's Ahmedabad underway on Sunday morning amid COVID-19 pandemic.
The elections in the state were scheduled to be held in two phases -- on February 21 and February 28, the State Election Commission (SEC) said last month.
According to SEC, six municipalities scheduled to undergo polls today, while polling at 81 municipalities, 31 district panchayats and 231 taluka panchayats will be held on February 28.
At the meeting, Mr Chadhuni called for greater cohesion between farmers and Dalits. A resolution was passed asking farmers to have images of Dalit icon BR Ambedkar in their homes. Dalits were asked to keep images of Sir Chotu Ram -- a prominent Jat political leader in British India.