Latest News Highlights: Out of 10,787, British variant has been reported in 736 samples in India
India has added 53,476 fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day rise in over five months, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 1,17,87,534, the Union health ministry said on Thursday. 251 people have died during the same period, taking the total number of dead to 1,60,692.
India is witnessing an increase in the daily new cases of COVID-19 since February, "clearly indicating a second wave", a report by the State Bank of India (SBI) said. The second wave may last up to 100 days, when counted from February 15, it said. Based on trends till March 23, the total number of coronavirus cases in India in the second wave is expected to be around 25 lakh, the forecast said.
Meanwhile in West Bengal- where elections will be held next month, actor Mithun Chakraborty today made his first appearance for the BJP in Bengal. Speculation that he would contest the election was shut down when his name was missing from the BJP's final list of candidates earlier this week. "I have no political aspirations," he repeated today.
Here are the Latest News Highlights:
Fire Breaks Out At Covid Hospital In Mumbai, 70 Patients Rescued
Pfizer, Biontech Launch COVID-19 Vaccine Trial In Children Under 12Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech SE began testing their COVID-19 vaccine in children under 12, with hopes of expanding vaccination to that age range by early 2022, the U.S. drugmaker said on Thursday.
The first volunteers in the early-stage trial were given their first injections on Wednesday, Pfizer spokesperson Sharon Castillo said.
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was authorized by U.S. regulators in late December for people age 16 and older. Nearly 66 million doses of the vaccine had been administered in the United States as of Wednesday morning, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The pediatric trial, which will include children as young as 6 months, follows a similar one launched by Moderna Inc last week.
US President announces goal of 200 million vaccine doses in first 100 daysUS President Joe Biden on Thursday launched a new goal of administering 200 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine in the United States within his first 100 days in office, double his original pledge. "Today I'm setting a second goal, and that is, we will by my 100th day in office have administered 200 million shots in people's arms," Biden told reporters in his first press conference since taking office on January 20.
"I know it's ambitious, twice our original goal," he added. "But no other country in the world has even come close -- not even close -- to what we are doing, and I believe we can do it."
Pfizer, BioNTech launch COVID-19 vaccine trial in kids under 12Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech SE began testing their COVID-19 vaccine in children under 12, with hopes of expanding vaccination to that age range by early 2022, the US drugmaker said. The first volunteers in the early-stage trial were given their first injections on Wednesday, Pfizer spokesperson Sharon Castillo said.
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was authorized by US regulators in late December for people age 16 and older. Nearly 66 million doses of the vaccine had been administered in the United States as of Wednesday morning, according to data.
Number of Covid vaccine doses given crosses 5.46 crore: CentreThe cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India has crossed 5.46 crore with 15,20,111 doses being given, the Union Health Ministry said. A total of 5,46,65,820 vaccine doses have been given, according to the provisional report till 7 pm.
These include 80,18,757 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose and 50,92,757 HCWs who have taken the second dose, 85,53,228 frontline workers (FLWs) who have received the first dose and 33,19,005 FLWs who have taken the second dose. Besides, 2,42,50,649 beneficiaries more than 60-years-old and 54,31,424 beneficiaries aged 45 to 60 with specific comorbidities were also administered the first dose.
Delhi Metro intensifies drive to ensure COVID-19 norms are followedIn view of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, the Delhi Metro has decided to intensify its drive to ensure commuters maintain social distancing and wear masks inside trains and on station premises, the transporter said. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) took to Twitter to inform people about it, and said over 300 commuters were issued challans on Wednesday for violating COVID-19 norms.
"To ensure our travel guidelines are being followed, Delhi Metro's Flying Squads penalised 318 commuters on 24 March 2021 for not wearing a face mask properly & following social distancing. Let us all follow the protocols & politely counsel others to do the same," it tweeted.
Sweden resumes use of AstraZeneca jab for seniorsSweden's Public Health Agency on Thursday announced it was resuming use of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine after it was put on pause over blood clot fears, but limited it to seniors. Following other European countries, Sweden suspended vaccinations with the AstraZeneca jab in mid-March following reports of severe blood clots potentially linked to the vaccine.
Last week the EU drugs regulator EMA said the vaccine was "safe and effective" and not linked to a higher risk of blood clots, but could not "rule out definitively" its role in a rare clotting disorder. While many other nations resumed using the AstraZeneca vaccine following the EMA's announcement, Nordic countries maintained their suspensions pending further checks.
Mumbai reports 5,504 new COVID-19 casesMumbai reported 5,504 new COVID-19 cases today -- the highest single-day spike since the pandemic began. Mumbai reported 2,281 discharges, and 14 deaths in the last 24 hours, officials said.
The total number of active Covid cases in the city stand at 33,961 while the death count has reached 11,620.
Goa records 189 new COVID-19 cases, one deathWith the detection of 189 new COVID-19 cases, Goa's caseload of infections rose to 57,170, an official from the state health department said. One person died of the infection, while 66 patients were discharged from various treatment facilities during the day, the official said.
The death count stands at 822 and the count of recoveries has reached 55,070, he said, adding that the state is now left with 1,278 active cases, the official said.
South Sudan receives India made COVID-19 vaccinesSouth Sudan has received Made in India COVID-19 vaccines, said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. "Solidarity with Africa's youngest nation. South Sudan receives Made in India vaccines," Mr Jaishankar said in a tweet.
India, which is now termed a world pharmacy, is at the forefront of the fight against Covid and is emerging as a key supplier of vaccines to more than 70 countries on a commercial and humanitarian basis.
AstraZeneca updates COVID-19 vaccine efficacy rate to 76 per centAstraZeneca said its COVID-19 vaccine was 76 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic illness in a new analysis of its major US trial, slightly lower than the level announced this week in a report criticised for using outdated information. US health officials had publicly rebuked the drugmaker for not using the most up-to-date information when it published an interim analysis on Monday showing the vaccine was 79 per cent effective.
Covid test must to enter Bangaluru from April 1Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar said that the people coming to Bengaluru from any state need to take the RT-PCR test. "People coming from any state to Bengaluru need to take RTPCR test including Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Chandigarh and other states as well," said the Health Minister.
He said that the more number of positive cases this time is in the 20 to 40 age group. "There should be no negligence from any asymptomatic or with symptoms. They must have to be quarantined," he said.
Jammu-Srinagar highway reopens after two days
One-way traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, which remained suspended for the last two days due to landslides, was restored in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, officials said.
Mithun Chakraborty's Election Debut - As Star Campaigner, Not Candidate
As BJP leaders toured Bengal today for elections starting Saturday, the show-stealer was actor Mithun Chakraborty, who debuted on the campaign trail days after joining the ruling party.
This was Mithun Chakraborty's first appearance for the BJP in Bengal, not as a candidate but as star campaigner.
Speculation that he would contest the election was shut down when his name was missing from the BJP's final list of candidates earlier this week. "I have no political aspirations," he repeated today. (Read full story
here)
Delhi Man Varun Arora Fed Thallium In Fish Curry To In-Laws. 2 Dead, Wife In HospitalA man in Delhi who allegedly poisoned his wife and her family using thallium in fish curry, killing his mother-in-law and sister-in-law, has been arrested, the police said today. According to the police, 37-year-old Varun Arora was inspired by Saddam Hussein, who was known to use thallium, a slow poison, to eliminate political opponents."
JUST IN: Lok Sabha adjourns sine die.
Discussing Public Sector Banks Privatisation With Centre: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das
The RBI is discussing public sector banks privatisation with the centre, Governor Shaktikanta Das said, adding that the "process will move on." The Governor was delivering the inaugural address at the India Economic Conclave (IEC) 2021 underway at Delhi. Shaktikanta Das emphasized that a healthy banking sector, with a strong capital base and ethics-driven governance remained a policy priority. (Read full story
here)
Karnataka Minister Dares MLAs To Take 'Monogamy Test', Own Up To Affairs
Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar's statement, calling for an investigation into the personal life of all 225 members of the state assembly to find out how many of them have had illicit or extra-marital relationships, created a flutter in political circles on Wednesday.
As this created an uproar in the assembly and drew criticism, the minister later said his statement has been misinterpreted, and expressed regret. (Read full story
here)
Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh And Gujarat account 77% of new cases
Maharashtra, Punjab, Kerala, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh are the five states that have seen the biggest single-day surge, as per the Health Ministry data. Together they account for 77.44 per cent of the new cases, informed the Union Health Ministry.
Just In: India has added 53,476 fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day rise in over five months, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 1,17,87,534, the Union health ministry said on Thursday. 251 people have died during the same period, taking the total number of dead to 1,60,692.
Coronavirus: Fresh Guidelines In Raipur Ban People's Entry At Tourist Spots
In view of a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in the last one week, the Raipur district administration on Wednesday issued fresh guidelines, including banning the entry of people in tourism spots and prohibiting religious, social, political and other programmes, to contain the spread of infection, an official here said."
Sunday Lockdown Extended To Four More Madhya Pradesh DistrictsAlarmed over rising coronavirus cases, the Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday decided to impose Sunday lockdown in the districts of Betul, Chhindwara, Ratlam and Khargone, an official said.
Sunday lockdown is already in force in Indore, Bhopal and Jabalpur.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced this while briefing his ministerial colleagues on the coronavirus situation after the cabinet meeting, said the official.
The lockdown will begin at 10 PM on Saturday and end on 6 AM on Monday.
In the cities where more than 20 cases are being reported daily, and in the districts where the average new cases per week are more than 20, only 50 persons can attend a marriage ceremony and only 20 people can take part in the last rites.
Finland, Iceland Approve AstraZeneca Covid Vaccine For SeniorsFinland and Iceland announced Wednesday their senior citizens will again be able to have the AstraZeneca vaccination against Covid-19, after halting the jabs over blood clot fears.
"There is no increased risk of very rare blood clots for people older than 65 after having the vaccination," said Finland's THL health agency.
"Vaccination in this age bracket can thus go ahead," from Monday.
As a precaution while tests continue, the vaccine will remain suspended for those aged under 65, the agency added.
In Reykjavik, Health Minister Svandis Svavarsdottir had similar "good news", saying those over 70 could again take the AstraZeneca jab.
Iceland halted its use of the vaccine on March 11 -- the same day as Norway and Denmark -- amid reports of post-jab side effects.
Brazil's Coronavirus Death Count Surpasses 300,000Brazil's death count in the coronavirus pandemic surpassed 300,000 Wednesday, as a deadly surge that has pushed hospitals to the brink made it the second country after the United States to pass the bleak milestone.
The country's Covid-19 death count now stands at 300,685, the health ministry said, from 12.2 million infections.
President Jair Bolsonaro announced earlier he was launching a crisis committee to deal with the pandemic, a change of course amid mounting pressure over a situation he has repeatedly minimized.