New Delhi: The Election Commission of India has banned all victory processions on the day of counting of votes (May 2) polled -- or even after -- to the five states in the past few weeks after amid COVID-19 surge.
Coming amid a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the poll panel had laid down protocol for the contesting parties and leaders to follow to minimise the spread of infections. The rules were mostly observed only breach by most political outfits and their contestants, with huge rallies and marches giving social distancing a toss.
Meanwhile, with 3,23,144 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases has climbed to 1,76,36,307, while the national recovery rate has further dropped to 82.54 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.
The death count increased to 1,97,894 with 2,771 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
There has been a slight dip in the daily cases as compared to the number of new infections reported in the past few days.
The active cases have increased to 28,82,204 comprising 16.34 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has further dropped to 82.54 per cent.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,45,56,209 while the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.12 per cent, the data stated.
Here are the Highlights:
Apr 28, 2021 05:01 (IST)
62 held for black marketing of oxygen, drugs across UP: Police
Sixty-two people were arrested in the last 10-12 days across Uttar Pradesh for black marketing of oxygen cylinders and life-saving drugs, police said. Additional Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said raids were conducted in different parts of the state on black marketeers of oxygen cylinders and life-saving drugs over the last 10-12 days.
Apr 28, 2021 03:43 (IST)
Bengal reports record 16,403 new COVID-19 cases, 73 more deaths
West Bengal on Tuesday logged 16,403 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest-single spike recorded in the state so far, pushing the tally to 7,76,345, a bulletin issued by the state health department said. The death count climbed to 11,082 with 73 more fatalities, it said.
Apr 28, 2021 01:43 (IST)
Assam logs 3,132 new COVID-19 cases, 18 more deaths
Assam's COVID-19 tally surged to 2,43,802 as 3,132 more people tested positive for the infection while 18 new fatalities pushed the coronavirus death count to 1,233, according to the bulletin issued by the state National Health Mission. The 18 new fatalities were reported from Kamrup Metropolitan district, 5, two each from Cachar, Goalpara, Nalbari and one each from Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Hojai, Jorhat, Kamrup Rural, Karimganj and Sivasagar districts, it said.
Apr 27, 2021 23:09 (IST)
Delhi Allows Hospitals To Engage Retired Nursing, Para-Medical Staff Amid Surge
Amid a massive surge in COVID-19 cases in the city, the Delhi government on Tuesday allowed hospitals to engage retired nursing and para-medical staff to handle the situation, reported news agency PTI.
"In view of the surge of the COVID pandemic and to meet the demand of increased manpower, the medical directors/medical superintendents/directors of all COVID Hospitals of the Delhi government are authorised to engage nursing and para-medical staff who have either retired as on March 31, 2021 or are retiring soon on contractual basis for a period of six months or up to September 30 whichever is earlier," an official order said.
