The death count increased to 1,56,567 with 104 new fatalities on Wednesday.
India's total tally of COVID-19 cases surged to 1,10,30,176 with 13,742 new infections, while the recoveries have surged to 1,07,26,702, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.
The death count increased to 1,56,567 with 104 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,07,26,702 which translates to a national COVID-19 recovery rate of 97.25 per cent and the case fatality rate stands at 1.42 per cent.
There are 1,46,907 active cases of coronavirus infections in the country which comprises 1.33 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.
India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.
Meanwhile, With a spurt in coronavirus cases in five states, Delhi will make it essential for those arriving from those states to carry a negative Covid test report from Friday, sources say.
People travelling to Delhi from Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab will have to show a negative RT-PCR test from Saturday to March 15.
Here are the Latest News Highlights:
Odisha logs 68 new COVID-19 cases, tally at 3,36,835Odisha's COVID-19 caseload mounted to 3,36,835 on Wednesday as 68 more people tested positive for the infection, a health department official said.
Of the new cases, 40 were reported from quarantine centres and 28 detected during contact tracing.
Khurda district, of which the state capital Bhubaneswar is a part, reported the highest number of fresh cases at nine, followed by Sambalpur at seven.
During the day, 90 patients were cured of the disease, taking the total number of recoveries to 3,34,333, which is 99.25 per cent of the caseload.
Coronavirus update: Sweden tightens virus curbs on fears of third waveFearing a potential third wave of the pandemic, Sweden on Wednesday said it was tightening virus restrictions and warned of further curbs if people did not stick by the rules.
As the number of new cases rises in the country, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said cafes, bars and restaurants would close by 8:30 pm (1930 GMT) from March 1 and the number of people allowed in shops and gyms would be restricted.
A day earlier, Stockholm authorities recommended the use of face masks on public transport at all times, as well as indoors where social distancing cannot be maintained.
Previously, masks had only been recommended on public transport during rush hour, AFP reported.
Coronavirus update: US to distribute 25 million cloth masks against CovidPresident Joe Biden's administration is set to distribute 25 million cloth masks starting from next month as part of efforts to defeat the pandemic, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said Wednesday.
"In the month of March, we will begin to deliver millions of masks to food banks and community health centers around the country," he said.
Coronavirus update: Egypt authorises Sputnik, AstraZeneca virus jabs Egypt's pharmaceutical authority on Wednesday approved the use of the Sputnik V and AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines, a month after the North African country kicked off its inoculation campaign.
The drug body had "provided emergency authorisation for the use of the two vaccines, Sputnik V, and AstraZeneca... imported from South Korea", it said in a statement on its Facebook page.
Coronavirus update: Johnson & Johnson vaccine highly effective against severe CovidThe single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine is highly effective in preventing severe Covid-19, including newer variants, according to documents released by the US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday.
The news came as the regulator was set to convene an independent panel Friday that will likely vote to authorize the vaccine, making it the third available in the country hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, AFP reported.
Italy to extend virus curbs until April 6: minister
Italy should brace for another month of restrictions due to the threat posed by new strains of the coronavirus, its Health Minister Roberto Speranza said Wednesday.
The government is expected to adopt a new decree in the coming days, extending a three-tier system of regional restrictions currently set to expire on March 5, AFP reported.
Vested interests misleading farmers on agri laws, says Yogi AdityanathUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday reiterated his government's commitment towards welfare of farmers and attacked those with "vested political interests" for misguiding peasants on the new agri laws, PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: Maharashtra government asks officials to ramp up testingAmid a surge in coronavirus cases, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday instructed all
district collectors and municipal commissioners to increase testing, a senior minister said after a cabinet meeting, PTI reported.
Coronavirus update: Germany approves COVID home tests to ease way out of lockdown
Germany approved three COVID-19 tests for home use as part Health Minister Jens Spahn's strategy to help Europe's biggest economy emerge from a lockdown that has been in place since mid-December.
The infection rate in Germany fell steadily in the first weeks of the year but has stagnated in recent days, making it more difficult for leaders to ease restrictions when they meet next week to consider lockdown rules that run to March 7.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has told lawmakers in her conservative party that making rapid tests more available and boosting testing capacity could make a return to normality more durable, two sources at the meeting told Reuters on Tuesday.
Coronavirus update: Most Union ministers want to pay to get vaccinated against COVID: Ravi Shankar Prasad
Most of the Union ministers would want to pay to get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Wednesday.
Coronavirus update: Germany confirms it will receive 16 million AstraZeneca doses in second quarter
Germany said it expected to receive 16 million doses of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine in the second quarter, the health ministry said.
That could represent a shortfall from the company's commitments to deliver about twice that number of doses to Germany in that quarter, according to the leaked contract with the EU, Reuters said.
Coronavirus update: Pope picks new doctor after previous one died from CovidPope Francis appointed a new personal doctor on Wednesday, several weeks after the death from Covid-19 of the previous holder of the post.
The 84-year-old pontiff picked Roberto Bernabei, an expert in health care for the elderly, as his physician, the Vatican said in a statement.
Coronavirus update: Denmark to ease some Covid restrictions
Denmark, which has been under a partial lockdown since late December, announced Wednesday it would ease some virus restrictions but keep the majority in place despite protests from the opposition, AFP reported.
Starting Monday, Danes will once again be able to visit some shops and partake in small-scale sports and communal activities, while some secondary schools will resume in-person teaching in the west of the country.
Coronavirus update: EU chief seeks 'amicable' solution as AstraZeneca admits new delays
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen insisted Wednesday that new problems dogging the supply of AstraZeneca's vaccines can be resolved, after the group admitted it could deliver only half the expected amount to the bloc in the second quarter.
"The vaccine manufacturers are our partners in this pandemic and they have also never faced such a challenge," she told the German regional daily Augsburger Allgemeine.
Coronavirus update: No Farmer Died By Suicide In Yogi Regime: Minister Mocks CongressGhana on Wednesday became the first country to receive vaccines from Covax, a global scheme to procure and distribute Covid inoculations for free for poorer countries. Launched last April, Covax said it planned to ship two billion doses by year's end, AFP reported.
Coronavirus update: India, PM Modi hailed globally for providing COVID-19 vaccination assistancePrime Minister Narendra Modi has been lauded by the global leaders as India continues to lead in assisting the countries under its ''Vaccine Maitri'' initiative amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Last month, India had dispatched a consignment of 50,000 doses of Covishield vaccine to Seychelles, ANI reported.
COVID-19: Hotels, Eateries To Stay Shut In Nagpur On Weekends
Considering the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, the civic body in Maharashtra's Nagpur city on Wednesday directed that restaurants, hotels and eateries will remain closed on weekends till further orders, an official said.
In Puducherry, the Chief Minister has resigned and nobody has claimed to form the government and therefore the LG has recommended suspending the 14th Assembly. Now, our approval will be sent to the President. After his approval, the Assembly will stand dissolved: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.
From March 1, people above 60 years of age and those above 45 years of age with comorbidities will be vaccinated at 10,000 government and over 20,000 private vaccination centres. The vaccine will be given free of cost at government centres: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.
"125-Year-Old Congress Defeated": Arvind Kejriwal On AAP Show In Gujarat
The Aam Admi Party's (AAP) emergence in the Surat civic body is the beginning of a new politics in Gujarat and each of its winning candidates will execute the responsibility with honesty, party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today. He also vowed to improve Gujarat in partnership with the people of the state. AAP garnered an impressive 27 seats in the coastal city, replacing the Congress as the main opposition party in the city municipal corporations, elections for which were held on Sunday.
Read Here Philippines Logs 1,557 New COVID-19 Cases
The Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines reported on Wednesday 1,557 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the Southeast Asian country's total tally to 566,420. The death count rose to 12,129 after 22 more patients died from the coronavirus epidemic, the DOH said. It added that 392 more patients recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 523,321.
Uttar Pradesh is the first state to not only announce maintenance allowance for workers, street vendors and rickshaw drivers but also make it available during an emergency (COVID19): Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in State Assembly.
Not Trying To Close Borders With Kerala But Only Trying To Ensure Safety Of People: Deputy Chief Minister
Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka Dr. Ashwathnarayan supported the state government's decision to allow only those people from Kerala who have tested negative for COVID-19. "We are not trying to close borders but are only trying to ensure the safety of the people. I support the state government's decision," Dr. Ashwathnarayan said.
Centre Rushes Teams To 9 States, Warns Against Laxity As Covid Cases Rise
The government has rushed high-level teams to 10 states and Union Territories that have seen a surge in Covid cases, warning that any laxity in measures to check infection will escalate the crisis, given the new virus strains in some countries. The Health Secretary has also written to seven states and Union Territories on the surge in virus cases and has advised specific measures.
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Malaysia Launches COVID-19 Vaccination Drive As PM Gets First Shot
Malaysia on Wednesday launched its COVID-19 inoculation programme, which authorities hope will rein in a spike in infections and help revive an economy that recorded its worst slump in over two decades last year. Malaysia has set an ambitious target of vaccinating at least 80% of its 32 million people by February next year.
No Death Due To Coronavirus In 19 States, UTs In A Day: Health Ministry
Nineteen states and union territories have not reported any death due to COVID-19 in a span of 24 hours, while India's active cases stood at 1,46,907 accounting for 1.33 per cent of the total number of infections, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday. A total of 13,742 new cases have been reported in a span of 24 hours, whereas 14,037 recoveries were registered during the same period. It has led to a net decline of 399 cases in the total active caseload, the ministry said. Maharashtra reported maximum positive changes with an addition of 298 cases whereas Kerala has recorded maximum negative change with subtraction of 803 cases, the ministry stated.
Odisha Logs 68 New COVID-19 Cases, Tally Rises To 3,36,835
Odisha's COVID-19 caseload on Wednesday surged to 3,36,835 after 68 more people tested positive for the infection, a health department official said. The COVID-19 death toll remained at 1,914 as no fresh fatality due to the disease has been reported since February 19, the official said.
3 New COVID-19 Cases In Mizoram, Tally Rises To 4,413
Three more persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram in the last 24 hours, pushing the tally to 4,413, an official said on Wednesday. Two cases were reported from Aizawl district and one from Lunglei district, he said. Mizoram now has 24 active COVID-19 cases, while 4,379 people have recovered from the virus.
Rs 5,000 Crore Annual Loss To Western Railway Due To COVID-19 Crisis: Official
The Western Railway is facing an annual revenue loss of about Rs 5,000 crore due to the COVID-19 crisis which affected services and led to a drop in the number of train travellers, a senior official told news agency PTI. Many people are still reluctant to travel by train due to fear of the coronavirus, Western Railway's General Manager Alok Kansal told reporters here on Tuesday.
Sputnik 5, Efficacy 91.6%, For India? Meeting Today To Review
The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Indian drug regulator will meet today to take up an application by pharma giant Dr Reddy's Laboratories seeking emergency approval for Sputnik V, the Russia-developed coronavirus vaccine. The vaccine has an efficacy of 91.6 per cent. On February 19, Dr Reddy's Laboratories had approached the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) to get approval for the emergency use of Sputnik V.
Read Here Maharashtra: 463 New COVID-19 Cases In Thane, 3 More Deaths
Thane has added 463 new cases of coronavirus, raising the infection count in the Maharashtra district to 2,61,667,an official said on Wednesday. Three more deaths due to the viral infection were also reported in the district on Tuesday, taking the toll to 6,246, he said. The COVID-19 mortality rate in the district is 2.39 per cent, the official said.
No New COVID-19 Case In Arunachal Pradesh For 5 Days
Arunachal Pradesh did not report any fresh COVID-19 case in the last five days, a senior health department official said here on Wednesday. The COVID-19 tally in the state remained at 16,836, State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said. One more person recuperated from the infection on Tuesday, taking the total number of coronavirus recoveries in the state to 16,776, he said.
I will be visiting Surat on February 26 to thank the people for helping Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) emerge as the main opposition party in Gujarat Local Body Polls and rejecting Congress: Arvind Kejriwal.
60-Plus Group To Be Vaccinated On Priority, Separate Timelines: Official
The Central government - which will begin the second phase of vaccination in mid-March - will give priority to people aged sixty and above and those who have comorbidities for longer duration, Dr Suneeta Garg, an advisor to Indian Council For Medical Research (ICMR), told NDTV. She said there will be segregation based on several criteria in the target group of 27 crore people and each sub-group will have separate inoculation timelines. She also said that the private sector will play a major in the drive.
Read Here India Records 13,742 New Infections, 104 Deaths In 24 Hours
With 13,742 fresh cases, India's COVID-19 tally has climbed to 1,10,30,176, while the number of recoveries has surged to 1,07,26,702, the Union health ministry said on Wednesday. The death count due to the viral disease has gone up to 1,56,567 in the country with 104 more fatalities reported in a 24-hour period, the ministry's data updated at 8 am showed.
Delhi To Make -ve Covid Report Must For Arrivals From 5 States: Sources
With a spurt in coronavirus cases in five states, Delhi will make it essential for those arriving from those states to carry a negative Covid test report from Friday, sources say. People travelling to Delhi from Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab will have to show a negative RT-PCR test from Saturday to March 15.
Read Here Schools Reopen In Telangana For Classes 6 To 8 After 10 Months
Schools in Telangana reopened today for classes six to eight after 10 months of being shut due to the coronavirus pandemic.
JUST IN | Delhi to make negative Covid RT-PCR test report must for people arriving from 5 states from Saturday till March 15: sources
Personnel who will be posted on Kumbh Mela duty are being vaccinated against COVID-19.
South Korea Reports 440 More COVID-19 Cases
South Korea reported 440 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Tuesday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 88,120. The daily caseload was up from 356 the previous day, rising above 400 for three days.
"Talk Carefully About Covid, Politics Can Wait": Shiv Sena Slams BJP Leader
The Shiv Sena today said the recent surge in coronavirus cases is a matter of concern and the opposition in Maharashtra should talk carefully about the COVID-19 crisis. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday asked people to follow "Covid-appropriate" behaviour and safety norms, and said he would observe the situation for a week to 15 days and then decide whether to impose another lockdown.
Delhi Records 145 New COVID-19 Cases, 2 Deaths
Delhi recorded 145 fresh COVID-19 cases and two new deaths today, while the positivity rate stood at 0.25 per cent, authorities said. With this, the death count from the coronavirus infection has grown to 10,903. On Monday, 128 cases and one death were registered. No death due to COVID-19 was recorded in Delhi on February 17, the third time single-day fatality count stood nil in this month.
60-Plus Group To Be Vaccinated On Priority, Separate Timelines: Official
The Central government - which will begin the second phase of vaccination in mid-March - will give priority to people aged sixty and above and those who have comorbidities for longer duration, Dr Suneeta Garg, an advisor to Indian Council For Medical Research (ICMR), told NDTV.
Read Here Maharashtra Reports More Than 6,000 New COVID-19 Cases, 51 Deaths
After slipping below 5,000 for a day, new COVID-19 cases again crossed the 6,000-mark in Maharashtra today due to a spike in the Akola division, while 51 patients died, a multi-week high, in the state, the health department said. The state reported 6,218 new COVID-19 cases, up from 5,210 on Monday, taking the tally to 21,12,312, it said.
Vaccinate Frontline Staff Quickly: Centre To States Reporting Covid SurgeThe Union Health Ministry on Tuesday wrote to five states that have reported a daily surge in new coronavirus cases and asked them to expedite vaccination of healthcare staff and frontline workers in districts that have recorded the biggest spikes in fresh infections.
"... confer immunity in shortest possible time frame to healthcare and frontline workers, as they are also involved in containment, surveillance and management of COVID-19 cases," said the letter that was sent to Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, J&K and Chhattisgarh.
Chhattisgarh To Screen Visitors From Other States Amid Covid Surge In view of the rising coronavirus cases in some parts of the country, the Chhattisgarh government has asked authorities to ensure screening of people coming into the state from outside through various modes of transportation, an official said on Tuesday.
In a directive issued to divisional commissioners and district collectors on Monday, the General Administration Department (GAD) has asked them to make arrangements for COVID-19 screening and contact tracing of people entering Chhattisgarh from other states, he said.