Coronavirus LIVE: With 15,388 fresh cases, India's COVID-19 tally has climbed to 1,12,44,786, while the number of recoveries has surged to 1,08,99,394, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday. The death toll due to the viral disease has gone up to 1,57,930 in the country with 77more fatalities, the ministry's data updated at 8 am showed. After registering an increase for six consecutive days, the number of active COVID-19 cases has gone down to 1,87,462, accounting for only 1.67 percent of the country's total caseload, while the case fatality rate has dropped to 1.40 percent. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has gone up to 1,08,99,394, which translates to a national COVID-19 recovery rate of 96.93 percent.
Mar 9, 2021
23:34
With that it's a wrap to the LIVE updates on the coronavirus pandemic for today. Do join us tomorrow for the top developments on the COVID-19 situation from India and around the world. Until then stay safe and good night.
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Mar 9, 2021
23:31
Rajasthan minister alleges shortage of COVID-19 vaccine doses; Centre refutes claims
Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma's remarks that the state is left with only two days of coronavirus vaccine sparked a controversy on Tuesday, with the Centre denying the claim. We have the (COVID) vaccine for two days, if we do not get more vaccines soon, the vaccination drive will stop midway. Today, 85,000 doses have been sent to Udaipur and 6.78 lakh more is expected, Sharma said.
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Mar 9, 2021
23:26
Covid-19: 'Janta Curfew' imposed in Jalgaon district from March 11-15
Owing to rising Covid-19 cases in Jalgaon district, a‘Janta Curfew’ will be imposed from 8 pm on March 11 till 8 am March 15 in the district, authorities said.
Mumbai sees 1,012 COVID-19 cases, 1,051 recoveries, 2 deaths
The number of COVID19 cases in Mumbai reached 3,35,584 after 1,012 people were detected with the infection on Tuesday, the seventh consecutive time the daily addition is 1000 plus, civic officials said. Two deaths took the toll to 11,506 and 1,051 people getting discharged increased the recovery count to 3,12,458, leaving the metropolis with 10,736 active cases, he added.
Govt places orders for 2 crore Covishield vaccine doses with Serum Institute
The government has signed a fresh purchase order with Serum Institute of India (SII) to supply 2 crore more doses of the Covishield vaccine, which has been developed by AstraZeneca and University of Oxford, sources tell CNBC-TV18.
However, India's Bharat Biotech is yet to receive any new purchase order but it has delivered 25 lakh doses till March 8.
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Mar 9, 2021
21:01
No immediate lockdown in Mumbai amid rise in COVID-19 cases: Civic officials
Despite the rise in COVID-19 cases, the situation in Mumbai is under control and there is no immediate need to impose a lockdown in the city, senior civic officials said on Tuesday. Mumbai on Monday recorded 1,008 fresh infections that raised its tally to 3,34,572. When asked about the possibility of imposing a lockdown, municipal commissioner Iqbal Chahal said there was no immediate need to do so. According to civic officials, the surge in cases is a result of an increase in daily testing. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ramped up testing significantly from 11,000 to 15,000 tests conducted in January to over 20,000 at present. As many as 23,000 COVID-19 tests were conducted by the civic body on Monday.
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Mar 9, 2021
19:51
China launches COVID-19 vaccination certificates for cross-border travel
China has launched a digital COVID19 vaccination certificate for its citizens planning crossborder travels, joining other countries issuing similar documents as they seek ways to reopen their economies.
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Mar 9, 2021
19:47
Anupam Kher receives COVID-19 vaccine
Veteran actor Anupam Kher on Tuesday said he has received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine. The 66yearold actor took to Twitter and shared a video of him receiving the first jab of the vaccine. "Got my #COVID19 first dose vaccination! Thank you all the doctors, medical staff, scientist and Government of India for making it possible. India Rocks. Jai Ho," Kher tweeted, tagging the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.
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Mar 9, 2021
19:45
Only private doctors on COVID-19 duty covered by govt insurance: HC
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused relief to the widow of a private doctor who died of coronavirus, citing that the Rs 50 lakh insurance cover under a Central scheme included only those private medical practitioners who were drafted for COVID19 duties. A division bench of Justices S J Kathawalla and R I Chagla dismissed a petition filed by Navi Mumbai resident Kiran Surgade seeking Rs 50 lakh cover under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) for her husband who died after contracting COVID19 from a patient at his clinic.
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Mar 9, 2021
19:44
AHPI urges PM Modi to further expand COVID-19 vaccine access
In view of successfully running the world's largest COVID-19 vaccination drive and built up capacity so far, leading healthcare providers body, Association of Healthcare Providers (India), has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to open up the vaccination programme for the rest of the population. Starting March 1, everyone above 60 years of age and those over 45 years with comorbidities are eligible to get COVID-19 vaccine for free at government facilities and for a charge at many private hospitals.
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Mar 9, 2021
18:21
Maharashtra Assembly: COVID-19 norms ignored as Oppn MLAs gather to protest
Members of the opposition BJP who were given seats in the Maharashtra Assembly galleries as part of physical distancing came close to each other on the floor of the House, ignoring the COVID19 norms, while protesting and shouting slogans against the state government. Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal appealed to the members to go back to their seats and follow the COVID19 prevention guidelines.
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Mar 9, 2021
17:21
Gymnastics Federation cancels All-Around World Cup in Tokyo due to COVID-19 impact
The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) said on Tuesday it has cancelled the Artistic AllAround World Cup in Tokyo, which was also to be a test event for the Olympics this summer, due to difficulties related to the COVID19 pandemic.
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Mar 9, 2021
15:45
MP doctor dies of COVID-19-related complications in Chennai
A 55yearold government doctor from Madhya Pradesh has died of COVID19related complications at a hospital in Chennai, health officials said on Tuesday. Dr Mukesh Jain, who was a pathologist at the Agar Malwa district hospital, tested positive for coronavirus last month following which he was admitted to a hospital in Indore.
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Mar 9, 2021
15:44
Plea to postpone judicial exam till lawyers get vaccinated transferred to another bench
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday transferred to another bench a plea seeking to postpone Delhi Higher Judicial Service Main Examination2019, scheduled to be held on March 1314, till the COVID19 vaccination drive for lawyers is complete. Justices Manmohan and Asha Menon said let the plea be listed before a bench headed by the chief justice as it has the roster of public interest litigation (PIL).
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Mar 9, 2021
15:42
Pilots, cabin crew won't fly for 48 hours after getting COVID-19 vaccine: DGCA
Aviation regulator DGCA said on Tuesday pilots and cabin crew members will not fly in an aircraft for 48 hours after being vaccinated against coronavirus. "If there are no symptoms after 48 hours, the air crew (which includes pilots and cabin crew) is fit to resume 'unrestricted' flying duties," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a circular.
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Mar 9, 2021
15:20
China launches COVID-19 vaccination certificates for cross-border travel
China has launched a digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate for its citizens planning cross-border travels, joining other countries issuing similar documents as they seek ways to reopen their economies. As vaccines are globally being rolled out, a few countries including Bahrain have already introduced certificates identifying vaccinated people, and the European Union agreed to develop vaccine passports under pressure from tourism-dependent southern countries. The certificate issued by China will have details about the holder’s COVID-19 vaccination information and coronavirus test results, the Department of Consular Affairs under China’s foreign ministry said on its website.
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Mar 9, 2021
15:11
U.S. House will take up Senate's $1.9 trillion coronavirus bill by Wednesday: Pelosi
The U.S. House of Representatives will take up by Wednesday the Senate version of the sweeping $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package backed by President Joe Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Monday. Closing in on final approval of one of the biggest U.S. anti-poverty measures since the 1960s, Democrats aim to enact the massive legislation by Sunday, when enhanced federal unemployment benefits are set to expire. The Senate passed its version of the bill after a marathon overnight vote on Saturday. The Senate version eliminated or pared back some provisions included in the House bill, which had increased the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and extended expanded jobless assistance through Aug. 29.
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Mar 9, 2021
14:55
Meghalaya's annual tourism revenue dips to Rs 3 cr from Rs 20 cr due to COVID-19: CM
Meghalaya's annual tourism revenue has dipped to just Rs 3 crore from over Rs 20 crore due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma informed the Assembly on Tuesday.
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Mar 9, 2021
14:42
Maharashtra MLCs claim discrepancy in COVID-19 tests, seek probe
Two Maharashtra legislators on Tuesday claimed there were variations in the results of COVID-19 tests conducted by different labs and sought a probe into it. Speaking in the state Legislative Council, BJP MLC Gopichand Padalkar said two days back, his swab sample test conducted by a private laboratory in Pune came out positive for coronavirus.
Delhi govt presents Rs 69,000-crore 'Deshbhakti Budget', announces free COVID vaccine for all
The Delhi government presented a Rs 69,000-crore budget themed on "patriotism" for the financial year 2021-22 on Tuesday, announcing free COVID-19 vaccination to all in its hospitals in the coming phases of the ongoing inoculation drive. Presenting the budget, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said it is based on "deshbhakti" (patriotism) as it pays tributes to freedom fighters and hopes to work towards building the capital and the country, as envisioned by them.
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Mar 9, 2021
13:46
Can't rule out partial lockdown in Mumbai: Guardian Minister
Mumbai Guardian Minister Aslam Shaikh on Tuesday said if COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the city, the possibility of a night curfew or partial lockdown cannot be ruled out. Talking to reporters in the Vidhan Bhavan complex, Shaikh saidlocal authorities have been empowered to take a decision on lockdown as and when necessary. "If the spike in COVID-19 cases continues, there is a possibility of night clubs being closed down first in the city. We cannot rule out the possibility of a night curfew or partial lockdown," the minister said. Shaikh noted that people not wearing masks are being penalised in the city.
Actor Ranbir Kapoor has the COVID-19 virus, his mother Neetu Kapoor confirmed in an Instagram post on Tuesday. The 38-year-old actor is on medication, "recovering well" and quarantining at home. "Thank you for your concern and your good wishes. Ranbir has tested positive for Covid-19. He is on medication and recovering well. He is in self quarantine at home and following all precautions," Neetu wrote on Instagram. Kapoor also recovered from the virus last December.
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Mar 9, 2021
13:16
Over 20 lakh anti-coronavirus vaccine doses administered in a day: Health Ministry
More than 20 lakh people were inoculated against coronavirus on March 8, the highest in a day so far, taking the total number of vaccine doses administered in the country to over 2.3 crore, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday. As on day-52 of the COVID-19 vaccination drive (March 8), 20,19,723 vaccine doses were given.
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Mar 9, 2021
13:01
26 fresh COVID-19 cases, no fatalities in Puducherry
Twenty six fresh COVID-19 cases in the Union Territory of Puducherry on Tuesday took the tally to 39,908, while the fatalities remained at 670 with no deaths being reported, the health department said. A total of 1,704 samples were tested during the last 24 hours ending 10 AM and the cumulative number of specimens examined so far stood at 6.40 lakh, Health and Family Welfare Services Director S Mohan Kumar said in a release.
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Mar 9, 2021
12:51
2 new cases take COVID-19 tally of Andamans to 5,026
The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 5,026 on Tuesday as two more persons tested positive for the infection, a health official said. Two more persons also recovered from the disease, he said. The archipelago now has seven active cases, while 4,957 people have recovered from the disease and 62 patients have succumbed to the infection so far, the official said. The administration has thus far tested over 2.81 lakh samples for COVID-19, he added.
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Mar 9, 2021
12:36
COVID-19: 2 fatalities, 231 new cases in Haryana
Haryana reported two COVID-19 fatalities on Monday which took the death toll to 3,058 while the infection count rose to 2,72,751 with 231 fresh cases, a health department bulletin said. One fatality each was reported from Faridabad and Hisar districts, according to the bulletin. Among the fresh cases, 39 were reported Gurgaon district and 28 from Karnal district. The number of active cases in the state is 2,083 and the recovery rate is 98.12 percent, as per the bulletin.
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Mar 9, 2021
12:23
The Lancet infectious diseases publishes Phase 2 results of Covaxin
-2-intramuscular doses of vaccines were administered (4 weeks apart) in a total of 380 healthy children and adults.
-Higher neutralising antibody titres (2-fold) was observed in the phase 2 study than in the phase 1 study.
-In a follow-up of the phase 1 trial, COVAXIN: registered trademark: produced, durable antibody and T-cell responses 3-months post-vaccination. 6 and 12 months follow-up studies are ongoing.
-After 2-doses, local and systemic adverse reactions observed in both vaccine groups were minimal. The probability of experiencing a side effect was 10-12 percent (6-times lower than other Emergency Use Authorized vaccines).