Coronavirus Cases in India: Maharashtra accounts for 62% of daily cases in the country. (File photo)
New Delhi:
India has added 43,846 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, setting another daily high in nearly four months, amid a worrying surge in Covid cases that has led to states including Punjab, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to consider returning from school. closures, restrictions on public gatherings and other measures to fight the virus, including lockdowns in the worst affected districts. The daily increase in infections today was the highest on record in 112 days, while the death toll has risen to 1,59,755 with 197 new deaths daily, data updated at 8 a.m. showed. Maharashtra, Punjab, Kerala, Karnataka and Gujarat are the five states that have recorded the highest increase in a single day since yesterday, government data shows.
Here are the top 10 updates on the coronavirus:
-
India recorded one lakh of infections in just three days, the government said on Saturday after 40,953 new infections were reported in one day. On Friday, 39,726 new cases were registered, while the previous day 35,871 new cases were registered. India’s COVID-19 count currently stands at 1.15 crore (1.15.99,130).
-
Eight states, including Maharashtra and Delhi, report a growing trajectory of new infections, the Health Ministry said in giving the latest COVID-19 update on Saturday. Meanwhile, Kerala shows a “steady downward trend,” he said.
-
Maharashtra, the worst affected state, accounts for 62 percent of daily cases in the country, the government said. The western state reported 27,126 daily cases of coronavirus on Saturday for the first time in history. Ninety-two people in the state have died from the disease in the past 24 hours, according to government data.
-
Meanwhile, Delhi added more than 800 coronavirus cases yesterday, crossing the number for the first time this year. The 813 new cases brought the capital’s infection count to more than 6.47 lakh, while two more deaths brought the death toll to 10,955, according to data shared by the health department.
-
In the south, Tamil Nadu ordered the closure of schools for classes 9, 10 and 11 as of March 22 starting today. However, classes for seniors will continue, as they must take the board exam.
-
The sudden increase in cases was due to “lax observance of appropriate COVID behavior” by people, especially in crowded places, the government said. The Center has also directed Union states and territories to strictly ensure that people follow appropriate Covid behavior, such as wearing face masks, maintaining hand hygiene, and social distancing.
-
India is witnessing a surge in Covid cases amid a nationwide vaccination campaign through which more than four million people have received Covid vaccine injections so far.
-
The COVID-19 vaccine should be able to provide good protection against infection for eight to ten months, AIIMS director Randeep Guleria said yesterday. He also said that there have been no major side effects from the vaccine.
-
Covishield from Serum Institute and Covaxin from Bharat Biotech have currently been approved for restricted emergency use in India. Last week, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan announced that more than six coronavirus vaccines will appear in India.
-
More than 12 million million people have been affected worldwide since the beginning of the pandemic; 26 lakh have died.
.
