New Delhi: India reported the year's biggest daily increase in COVID-19 cases on Sunday, with 25,320 new infections. India's COVID-19 deaths rose by 161 to 158,607 over the last 24 hours, Sunday's data show, compared to an average of about 100 since early February.
India is the third-most affected country globally with 11.36 million cases, behind the United States and Brazil.
India is looking at all "serious" post-vaccination side effects as it carries out the world's largest coronavirus immunisation drive, a top medical expert said today amid suspension of AstraZeneca shots in several countries over risk of blood clots. Panels are constantly monitoring "adverse events" for both Covishield and Covaxin, the expert added.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday announced that more than six coronavirus vaccines will come up in India. He also said that 1.84 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered to people so far, while 23 crore tests have been conducted. India has developed two vaccines, which have been given to 71 countries. Many more nations are seeking the vaccines, and these are not little-known nations...Canada, Brazil and other developed countries are using Indian vaccines with a great zeal," he said.
More than 2.82 crore (2,82,18,457) vaccine doses have been administered through 4,86,314 sessions in India till now.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra on Saturday recorded 15,602 fresh COVID-19 cases and 88 deaths, taking the tally to 22,97,793 and the count to 52,811, the state Health department said.
With a total of 1.13 crore infections, India has logged the second-highest number of Covid infections after the United States in the world.
Here are the Highlights:
Mar 14, 2021 17:37 (IST)
7 States Account For 87.73% Of New COVID-19 Cases Reported In A Day
States like Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh are showing a steep rise in the daily new COVID-19 cases and have accounted for 87.73 per cent of the new instances of the disease reported in a day, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday.
Maharashtra registered the highest daily new cases at 15,602, followed by Kerala with 2,035 and Punjab 1,510 new cases.
India's total COVID-19 active caseload has reached 2.10 lakh, the ministry said adding Maharashtra, Kerala and Punjab account for 76.93 per cent of India's total active cases.
Mar 14, 2021 17:00 (IST)
Ireland suspends AstraZeneca jab over blood clot fears
Ireland suspended the use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine on Sunday, following reports of blood clots in adults who received the shot in Norway.
"The administration of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca is temporarily deferred from this morning, Sunday 14th March," a health ministry spokesman told AFP.
The move came after Ireland's National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommended suspending the AstraZeneca rollout "on the precautionary principal" after "a report from the Norwegian Medicines Agency of four new reports of serious blood clotting events in adults after vaccination".
"It has not been concluded that there is any link" between the AstraZeneca vaccine and the blood clot cases and action has been taken "pending receipt of further information", Ireland's deputy chief medical officer Ronan Glynn said in a statement.
Mar 14, 2021 15:24 (IST)
MK Stalin To Begin Campaign Trail From Tomorrow
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President MK Stalin will start his election campaign from former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's birth place Thiruvaarur from tomorrow for the Assembly polls, reported news agency ANI.
Stalin will campaign in Thiruvaarur, Mannargudi, and Nannilam Assembly constituencies on March 15. He is seeking another term from Kolathur constituency.
The DMK will contest 173 seats out of the total 234, while 187 will contest under the DMK symbol.
Mar 14, 2021 15:16 (IST)
Mamata Banerjee Addresses Rally In Kolkata - First Time Since Nandigram "Attack"
Mamta Banerjee's made the first public appearance in Kolkata after she was allegedly attacked by some people in Nandigram earlier this week.
Mar 14, 2021 14:52 (IST)
Maharashtra Government Should Suspend Cop Arrested In Antilia-Suv Case: BJP
Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council and BJP leader Pravin Darekar today said the state government should suspend police officer Sachin Waze, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the Antilia bomb scare case, reported news agency ANI.
"After the arrest of Sachin Waze, at least now the government should suspend him and show that the government does not support him or save him. But will the government do this?" Mr Darekar said.
Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had said that appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation agency in the case.
Mar 14, 2021 14:27 (IST)
Rakesh Tikait Will Lose Security Deposit If He Contests Polls: BJP MP
BJP Rajya Sabha MP and former National President of Rashtriya Kisan Morcha, Vijaypal Singh Tomar today slammed Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait saying that Mr Tikait will lose his security deposit a third time if he contests elections, reported news agency ANI.
"Rakesh Tikait is playing in the hands of the opposition parties, he will come to know the reality if he contests the election. The same Rakesh Tikait has forfeited deposit in the elections twice before and if he contests the election, it will be forfeited again," Vijaypal Singh Tomar told news agency ANI.
Mar 14, 2021 14:26 (IST)
Ahead Of Rally, Mamata Banerjee Calls On Bengal To "Never Bow Down To Cowardice"
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that despite being in pain she will continue to fight boldly and called on people to "never bow down to cowardice", reported news agency ANI.
"We will continue to fight boldly! I'm still in a lot of pain, but I feel the pain of my people even more. In this fight to protect our revered land, we have suffered a lot and will suffer more but we will NEVER bow down to COWARDICE!," tweeted Mamata Banerjee.
Ms Banerjee is conducting a roadshow, days after sustaining injuries during election campaigning, on a wheelchair from Gandhi Murti to Hazra in Kolkata today. She is scheduled to address a public rally at Hazra at the end of the rally.
Mar 14, 2021 14:22 (IST)
Special Stage, Ramps Set Up For Mamata Banerjee Ahead Of Her Kolkata Roadshow
A special stage has been set up for West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata from where she will conduct a roadshow on a wheelchair to Hazra, reported news agency ANI.
Along with the stage, ramps have also been installed at the location.
It will be her first public appearance after she was allegedly attacked by some in Nandigram earlier this week. On March 10, the chief minister, who was on a two-day visit to Nandigram from where she filed her nomination, alleged that she was pushed by a few unidentified people during her election campaigning.
Mar 14, 2021 13:54 (IST)
Nearly 3 Crore Covid Vaccine Doses Administered In India: Health Ministry
As the world's largest COVID-19 vaccination drive is underway in India, the country has nearly administered three crore cumulative vaccination doses with a total of 2,97,38,409 through 5,10,400 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am today, reported news agency ANI.
According to the health ministry, a total of 2,91,92,547 vaccine doses have been administered as per the provisional report till 7 pm today.
