Coronavirus LIVE: Mumbai might even see new curbs if positivity charge goes above 15%, says BMC chief Iqbal Chahal
Pfizer, Moderna vaccines may reduce risk of asymptomatic COVID-19 infection, study says
Patients without COVID19 symptoms are far less likely to test positive, and unknowingly spread COVID19 ten days after receiving a second dose of a messenger RNA vaccine, compared to those who have not been vaccinated, a study says. Researchers from Mayo Clinic in the US noted that several vaccines are now clinically available under emergency use authorisation and have demonstrated efficacy against symptomatic COVID19.
Mumbai’s 90% COVID-19 patients in past 2 months from highrises
As many as 90 per cent patients in Mumbai, who tested positive for COVID19 in January and February this year, were residents of highrise buildings, while the remaining 10 per cent were from slums and chawls, the city civic body has said. However, the situation has changed to some extent this month as the number of cases from slums are also going up, civic officials said.
COVID-19: Six states account for over 85 per cent of new cases
Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu continue to report a surge in dailyCOVID19 cases, accounting for 85.6 per cent of the new cases, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday. India’s total COVID19 active caseload has reached 1,97,237 and now comprises 1.74 per cent of India’s total infections.
Fresh curbs in Pune as COVID-19 cases rise
Considering the recent spike in COVID19 cases, the administration in Maharashtra’s Pune district has directed schools and colleges to remain shut till March 31 and curtailed the operating time for hotels and restaurants. According to the new set of restrictions, schools and colleges will remain closed till March 31, hotels and restaurants will be allowed to function till 10 pm, and food deliveries will be permitted till 11 pm, Pune divisional commissioner Saurabh Rao said.
Manoj Bajpayee tests positive for COVID-19, under home quarantine
Manoj Bajpayee has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is currently under home quarantine, the actor’s spokesperson said on Friday. Bajpayee’s spokesperson said the actor, who had commenced shooting for Kanu Behldirected “Despatch” last month, was diagnosed with COVID19 after the director got infected with it. “Manoj Bajpayee was shooting for ‘Despatch’ film which is produced by Ronnie Screwvala and has tested COVID positive after his director got infected with it. “Manoj Bajpayee is on medication and recovering well. He is in selfquarantine at home and following all precautions,” the 51yearold actor’s spokesperson said in a statement.
Keen to discuss COVID-19, challenges in Indo-Pacific at Quad meeting: Australian PM Morrison
Terming as “historic” his firstever Quad meeting with leaders from the US, India and Japan, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that he was keen to discuss with “close friends” the issues of COVID19 and security and maritime challenges across the IndoPacific region. Known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, representatives for the fourmember nations have met periodically since its establishment in 2007.
COVID-19: Central Railway raises platform ticket cost in 2 more divisions
The Central Railway has increased the price of platform tickets at some key stations under its Nagpur and Bhusawal divisions in Maharashtra to avoid over crowding during the upcoming summer season in view of the spike in COVID19 cases, an official said on Friday. As per the decision taken on March 10, a platform ticket now costs Rs 50 at Nashik Road, Jalgaon, Bhusawal, Badnera, Madgaon, Shegaon, Akola, Amravati and Khandwa stations in Bhusawal divisions. It is priced at Rs 50 at Nagpur station and Rs 30 at Betul, Chandrapur, Balharshah and Wardha station in Nagpur division, the official said.
Night curfew imposed in Panvel till March 22, schools, colleges shut
After imposing lockdowns in Aurangabad and Kalyan Dombivli, the Maharashtra government on Friday imposed night curfew in Panvel in a bid to contain the resurgent coronavirus infection in the state. The night curfew in Panvel comes into effect from today and will remain in place till March 22. In view of the rising cases of COVID-19 in the state, the Uddhav Thackeray govt announced night curfew in Panvel from March 12 to March 22. The curfew will be imposed every night between 11 pm and 5 am.
Badminton’s US Open, Canada Open cancelled due to COVID-19
The Badminton World Federation on Friday announced that this year’s US Open and Canada Open will not take place due to the COVID-19 “restrictions and complications” across the globe. The US Open, a Super 300 tournament on the HSBC BWF World Tour, was slated to be played from July 6 to 11, while the Super 100 tournament in Canada Open was scheduled for June 29 to July 4.
No fresh COVID-19 case in Arunachal in 24 hours, tally at 16,840
Arunachal Pradesh did not report any COVID-19 case in the past 24 hours, a senior health official said on Friday. The total caseload in the northeastern state remained at 16,840, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Lobsang Jampa said. Arunachal Pradesh now has four active cases, while 16,780 people have recovered from the disease so far.
Puducherry Lt Governor urges people to get vaccinated against COVID-19
Puducherry Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Friday made a fervent appeal to the people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as the virus has “not totally disappeared.” “I appeal to people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. It has not totally disappeared. We should lead a peaceful and healthy life,” she said after kickstarting a series of activities in the run-up to the 75th Independence Day celebrations.
Telangana reports 181 new COVID-19 cases, one death takes toll
Telangana recorded 181 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the total caseload to 3,00,717, while the death toll rose to 1,650 with one more fatality, the state government said on Friday. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 44, followed by Rangareddy and Medchal Malkajgiri districts with 19 and 15 cases respectively, it said in a bulletin, providing details as of 8 PM on March 11.
Biden announces all Americans to be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination by May 1
US President Joe Biden has announced that all Americans will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination by May 1 with an aim to get the country, worst-hit by the pandemic, closer to normal by July 4th, Independence Day. In his first prime-time address to the nation on Thursday since assuming office in January, Biden also announced the deployment of more than 4,000 active-duty troops to support vaccination efforts, bringing the total to over 6,000. His speech comes a year to the day the outbreak was classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.
Punjab Finance Minister tests COVID-19 positive
Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal on Friday said he was tested positive for coronavirus. “I would like to inform everyone that I have tested positive for COVID and I will be in quarantine for the next coming days,” he said. “I got myself tested before the session and then again immediately after the session. Before the session, I tested negative. After the session, I have tested positive,” he added.
BMC Commissioner to CNBC- TV18: Here are the key points
-5,400 total active cases as of February 10 have grown to 11,000 last evening
-Saw 111 deaths due to COVID-19 in Mumbai in the last 1 month
-While the death rate has halved, the number of cases have increased in the last 1 month
-Positivity rate has grown to 7-7.5 per 100 tests; the rise is a concern
-Have fined over 2 million people for not wearing masks in Mumbai, till date
-Have collected Rs 40 crore so far as fines from people who did not wear masks
-Pushing restrictions on wedding ceremonies, cinema halls, restaurants very tightly
-Things are under control as of now
-Have 8,000 unutilised beds for COVID patients
-Death rate is under control; not seeing pressure on hospitals
-Death rate for COVID patients needing ventilators has come down
-We don’t need any curbs if we follow COVID-appropriate behaviour
-No additional restrictions are being considered
-Don’t see need for any new curbs at the moment
-May need to enforce new restrictions if positivity rate goes beyond 15 percent
BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal says there may be new restrictions if positivity rate goes beyond 15%
Death rate for COVID patients needing ventilators has come down. Things are under control as of now, @mybmc commissioner tells @ShereenBhan but adds that there may be new restrictions if positivity rate goes beyond 15%#COVID19 #CNBCTV18Exclusive pic.twitter.com/uHYOPTMhkq
— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) March 12, 2021
Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu continue to report an upsurge in Daily New Cases
Maharashtra and Kerala account for 71.69% of India’s Active Cases
Center closely monitoring and actively engaging with States/UTs over the rising COVID19 cases in the country
Over 2.61 cr vaccine doses administered across the country
Novavax vaccine 96% effective against original coronavirus, 86% vs British variant in UK trial
Novavax Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine was 96% effective in preventing cases caused by the original version of the coronavirus in a late-stage trial conducted in the United Kingdom, the company said on Thursday, moving it a step closer to regulatory approval, news agency Reuters reported.
Thane district’s COVID-19 count rises by 937, death toll by 6
With the addition of 937 coronavirus cases, the infection count in the Thane district of Maharashtra mounted to 2,73,130, an official said on Friday. These new cases were reported on Thursday, he said. As the virus claimed the lives of six persons, the death toll in the district rose to 6,321. The district’s COVID-19 mortality rate is 2.31 percent at present, he added.
Maharashtra’s COVID-19 surge due to grampanchayat polls, disregard for rules: Experts
Maharashtra has been recording a substantial rise in coronavirus cases of late, with the authorities attributing it to crowding witnessed during the grampanchayat elections held mid-January this year and a widespread disregard for the norms by common people as well as politicians. The state on Thursday recorded 14,317 fresh infection cases, which is not only the highest so far in 2021, but also since October 7 last year. The overall case count till Thursday night was 22,66,374.
COVID-19: 700 people attend wedding in Maharashtra, organisers booked
In spite of the coronavirus restrictions, around 700 people gathered to attend a marriage function at Kalyan in Maharashtra’s Thane district, following which police have registered a case against its organisers, civic authorities said. The event was held on March 10, the Kalayn Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) said in a statement on Thursday.
No export prohibitions on COVID-19 vaccines says White House
The Biden administration on Thursday ruled out that it has imposed any kind of restrictions on the export of COVID-19 vaccines, amidst reports that European Union has been told by the US that they cannot expect any AstraZeneca shipments anytime soon. “We don’t purchase AstraZeneca supplies. So there’s no export prohibitions and all vaccine manufacturers in the United States are free to export their products while also fulfilling the terms of their contracts with the US government,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at her daily news conference.
Recovery rate slips to 96.86% while positivity rate rises to 1.74%
#COVID_19 India Updates | Total cases see the biggest single-day rise in last three months & active cases in last 6 months. Recovery rate slips to 96.86% while positivity rate rises to 1.74% pic.twitter.com/9XQi9hJjxa
— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) March 12, 2021
Mizoram reports one fresh COVID-19 case, tally rises to 4,435
A 13-year-old boy tested positive for novel coronavirus in Mizoram, pushing the tally to 4,435, an official said on Friday. The northeastern state now has nine active cases, while 4,416 people have recovered from the disease so far, he said. The death toll remained at 10. Mizoram has tested 2,40,960 samples till date, including 516 on Thursday, the official said. A total of 42,943 people have been administered the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine thus far, the health department said.
Thane district’s COVID-19 count rises by 937, death toll by 6
With the addition of 937 coronavirus cases, the infection count in the Thane district of Maharashtra mounted to 2,73,130, an official said on Friday. These new cases were reported on Thursday, he said. As the virus claimed the lives of six persons, the death toll in the district rose to 6,321. The district’s COVID-19 mortality rate is 2.31 percent at present, he added.
Brazil reporting it’s highest yet daily deaths for the last two days; More than 2k daily deaths
– Cases per million population in USA is now over 90k/million. World average 15.2k. India 8.1k/million
COVID-19 INDIA UPDATES: Key points
Active Cases Rises By 8,011; The Biggest Single-day Rise In Last 6 Months
Additions To Total Cases At 23,285 Against Recoveries Of 15,157
Rise In Total Cases Highest Since December 25, 2020
Increase In Deaths Remains Above 100; It’s Up 117
Single-day Vaccination Tally At 4.8 Lakh Against Prev Day’s 13.2 Lakh
Recovery Rate Slips To 96.86% While Positivity Rate Slips To 1.74%
Total Cases At 1.13 Cr, Active At 1.97 Lk, Recoveries At 1.09 Cr & Deaths At 1.58 Lk
Denmark, Norway, Iceland suspend use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
Denmark, Norway and Iceland on Thursday temporarily suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine over concerns about patients developing post-jab blood clots, as the manufacturer and Europe’s medicines watchdog insisted the vaccine was safe, news agency AFP reported.
