India registered a single-day spike of over 16,000 COVID-19 cases for the third day in a row on Saturday, pushing the infection tally to 1,10,79,979, while the recoveries surged to 1,07,63,451, according to Union Health Ministry data.
A total of 16,488 novel coronavirus cases were reported in a day, while the death count rose to 1,56,938 with 113 new fatalities, showed the data updated at 8 am on Saturday.
The active case count has further increased to 1,59,590, which comprises 1.44 per cent of the total infections, the data stated.
The number of recoveries reached 1,07,63,451, which translates to a national COVID-19 recovery rate of 97.14 per cent and the case fatality rate stands at 1.42 per cent.
A total of 16,577 new COVID-19 cases were reported in India on Friday, while 16,738 fresh infections were registered in the country on Thursday.
Meanwhile, with 2,84,297 vaccine doses administered to healthcare workers (HCWs) and frontline workers (FLWs) on the 42nd day of nationwide COVID-19 vaccination, the total number of vaccination crossed 1.37 crores in the country, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Friday.
According to the Union Health Ministry, 1,37,56,940 vaccine doses were given through 2,89,320 sessions, as per the provisional report till 6 pm on Friday.
While the countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16, vaccination of the FLWs started from February 2, The second dose of vaccine is being administered from February 13.
Here are the Latest News Highlights:
Feb 28, 2021 00:05 (IST)
Delhi Set For 2nd Phase Of Coronavirus Vaccination Drive: Report
After injecting shots against COVID-19 to over 3.6 lakh beneficiaries, authorities in Delhi are now set for the roll-out of the second phase of the inoculation drive on March 1.
In the second phase, people aged above 60 years and those over 45 with comorbidities will be vaccinated.
At Delhi government hospitals, doctors and other medical staff were upbeat about the second phase of the drive.
Over 13,000 beneficiaries had received anti-COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, a significant fall from the number of people who had got the shots a day before, according to data shared by officials.
Feb 27, 2021 23:24 (IST)
Over 20 Residents Positive, Gurgaon Apartment Complex Containment Zone
An apartment complex in Gurgaon has been declared a COVID-19 containment zone after 20 residents were found positive, news agency ANI reported quoting a district health department official.
Samples were taken from the residents after three people were found positive. When the results came, 20 more were found positive, district health department officer J Prakash told ANI.
The apartment complex is in Gurgaon's Sector 67. "First, three cases were reported, after which a testing camp was set up. Some 20 people turned out positive, so we declared it as a containment zone. More tests are being conducted," Mr Prakash said, ANI reported.
COVID-19 cases have been rising in some states like Maharashtra and Punjab. The rise in cases comes amid a massive vaccination drive across the country.
Feb 27, 2021 22:19 (IST)
COVID-19 Night Curfew Extended For Another 15 Days In 4 Gujarat Cities
In view of the recent spike in coronavirus cases, the Gujarat government has decided to extend the night curfew in four major cities of the state, including Ahmedabad, by another 15 days.
The ongoing night curfew in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot, was to end on February 28.
An official statement issued on Friday night said, the government decided to extend the night curfew by another 15 days in view of the recent rise in coronavirus cases in four municipal corporations.
Feb 27, 2021 20:41 (IST)
Maharashtra Reports 8,000 Covid Cases For 4 Days In A Row
Maharashtra reported 8,623 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, with over 8,000 cases for four days in a row, according to the Union Health Ministry.
The state, which has been the epicentre of the recent surge in the coronavirus cases, recorded 51 deaths, the latest data showed.
Its capital, Mumbai, reported 987 new cases, while 4 people died due to the infection in the last 24 hours.
Maharashtra accounts for the highest number of coronavirus cases in the country, followed by Kerala. Four cities -- Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Amravati -- together account for 3,401 or 40 per cent the new cases.
Feb 27, 2021 19:21 (IST)
Covid Vaccine Jab Capped At ₹ 250 At Private Hospitals: Government
Coronavirus vaccines will be capped at Rs 250 per shot at private hospitals and health centres, the Health Ministry said today.
The government on Friday had said it will let people choose their coronavirus vaccination centres when the campaign expands tomorrow.
The country has halted vaccinations this weekend to upgrade software used to coordinate its campaign, as it prepares to widen coverage beyond the 1.15 crore health and front-line workers immunised since January 16.
Feb 27, 2021 18:06 (IST)
COVID-19 Night Curfew Extended For Another 15 Days In 4 Gujarat Cities
In view of the recent spike in coronavirus cases, the Gujarat government has decided to extend the night curfew in four major cities of the state, including Ahmedabad, by another 15 days.
The ongoing night curfew in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot, was to end on February 28.
An official statement issued on Friday night said, the government decided to extend the night curfew by another 15 days in view of the recent rise in coronavirus cases in four municipal corporations.
This is the fifth extension of the night curfew, which first came into force in November last year after a spurt in COVID-19 cases in these cities post-Diwali.
Feb 27, 2021 17:25 (IST)
"Truth Is We See Party Getting Weak": Congress 'Dissenters' In Jammu
The Congress is "getting weak" and needs to strengthened, senior party leader Kapil Sibal said at a public event in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, as members of the G-23 - a group of senior leaders who have openly questioned the Gandhis' leadership style - converged to send a sharp reminder to the party's central leadership ahead of five key elections in the next few weeks.
Apart from Mr Sibal, the group that took to the stage included former Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Union Minister Anand Sharma, Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha, Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
"The truth is that we see the Congress getting weak. That is why we have gathered. We gathered earlier too and we have to strengthen the party together," Mr Sibal said.
Feb 27, 2021 16:48 (IST)
"PM Travels To Kerala, Assam But...": P Chidambaram On Farmers' Protest
Criticising the Centre over its stand on the ongoing farmer protest, Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday said that the reward to the farm sector for growing at 3.9 per cent in a recession year is to treat the protesting farmers as if they are enemies of the state.
"The reward to the farm sector for growing at 3.9 per cent in a recession year is to treat the protesting farmers as if they were enemies of the state," P Chidambaram tweeted.
He alleged that the Prime Minister travels from Kerala to Assam but does not have time to travel 20 km to meet farmers.
"The PM travels from Kerala to Assam but does not have the time or inclination to travel 20 km to meet the farmers on the border of Delhi," he alleged.
