New Delhi: The Maharashtra government on Sunday announced new restrictions including a night curfew in the state and a "strict lockdown" over the weekends from Friday 8 pm to Monday 7 pm amid an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting to review the Covid-related issues including the ongoing vaccination drive in the country as the infection is seeing a surge. All senior officers -- including the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Health Secretary are participating in the meeting.
Over the last 24 hours, the country saw the biggest daily surge in Covid cases since mid-September, with 93,249 fresh infections, taking the tally to over 1.24 crore.
Meanwhile, India on Sunday recorded 93,249 new coronavirus infections, the highest single-day rise so far this year, which took the total COVID-19 cases to 1,24,85,509, according to Union health ministry data.
This is the biggest daily rise in cases since September 19, when 93,337 fresh infections were recorded.
The death count climbed to 1,64,623 on Sunday with 513 new fatalities, the ministry data updated at 8 am showed.
Registering a steady increase for the 25th day in row, the active cases surged to 6,91,597, accounting for 5.54 per cent of the total infections. The recovery rate further dropped to 93.14 per cent, the data stated.
The active caseload was at its lowest at 1,35,926 on February 12, comprising 1.25 per cent of the total infections.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease increased to 1,16,29,289, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.32 per cent, according to the data.
Here are the Latest News Highlights:
Apr 05, 2021 01:26 (IST)
Maharashtra, Delhi continue to report surge in COVID-19 cases
Maharashtra and Delhi continued to report a surge in COVID-19 cases on Sunday.
With 57,074 new coronavirus infections, Maharashtra on Sunday evening has reported the highest single-day spike so far since the pandemic started.
As many as 4,033 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Delhi on Sunday, which is the highest single-day spike in the national capital since December 4 last year.
Punjab reported 3,019 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, informed the state health department on Sunday.
Apr 05, 2021 00:50 (IST)
Mandatory Covid Test For Mumbai, Bengaluru Passengers Arriving In Assam
A day after Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that there is no COVID in the state and hence no need to wear mask now,the health and family welfare department Sunday issued fresh notifications for mandatory testing of air and train passengers coming to the state from Mumbai and Bengaluru to check the spread of virus.
Separate orders have been issued for air and train passengers and the rates for COVID testing by the department's Principal Secretary Samir Sinha.
The minister had on Saturday said that there is no COVID in Assam and so there is no need to wear a mask now which triggered widespread criticism.
Apr 04, 2021 22:49 (IST)
Ghaziabad Issues Fresh Covid Guidelines For Commercial Complexes, Cinema Halls, Malls, Hotels, Restaurants, Parks
In view of the increase in Covid-19 cases, Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey has issued an order directing commercial complexes, cinemas, malls, hotels, restaurants, and parks in Ghaziabad to have a token system for visitors with entry and exit timings and allow people only according to their capacity, reported news agency ANI.
The administration has to make sure that proper social distancing is maintained for those who are waiting for their turn to enter the premises. These places have also been directed to arrange a display board at their entry gate so that proper social distancing could be monitored.
Shastri Nagar, Nehru Nagar, Kavi Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Sanjay Nagar, Govind Puram, Raj Nagar, Indira Puram, Vaishali, Lajpat Nagar, Rajendra Nagar, Shalimar Garden and Vasundhara are the red zones, as per the letter.
Earlier, the District Magistrate has issued orders under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to prevent gatherings amid the COVID-19 pandemic and in view of the festivals.
Apr 04, 2021 21:22 (IST)
6 Jammu Government Medical College Students Test Positive For Coronavirus
Six students of Government Medical College (GMC) in Jammu tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, a spokesperson said, reported news agency PTI.
The students, including five girls staying in hostels, tested positive for the infection during a special rapid antigen test (RAT) drive in Jammu, he said.
He said GMC, Jammu, conducted the tests for staff and students in view of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the Union Territory.
"Isolation of all COVID positive students has been arranged at the Maternal Child Hospital (MCH) Gandhi Nagar, Jammu," the spokesperson said, adding the hostel premises have been sanitized.
He said the GMC management has decided that the RAT tests would be done periodically.
Apr 04, 2021 21:17 (IST)
Campaigning Ends For Phase 3 Of Bengal Polls
Senior BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta, Trinamool Congress (TMC) minister Ashima Patra and former CPI(M) minister Kanti Ganguly are among the 205 candidates whose campaigns for the third phase of elections in 31 seats in West Bengal ended today evening, reported news agency PTI.
In this phase, elections will be held in parts of rural Howrah, the Sunderban region, the Diamond Harbour and Baruipur belts in the South 24 Parganas, and parts of the Hooghly district.
The campaign ended at 5 pm with elections scheduled to be held on Tuesday.
The BJP's campaign was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who addressed several public meetings in these three districts.
The Trinamool Congress's charge was led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, even as TMC MP and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee addressed a significant number of rallies.
The Left-led alliance focussed more on street-corner meets, small gatherings and door-to-door visits in absence of a face to counter PM Modi and Ms Banerjee at large rallies.
