Coronavirus updates | March 28, 2021

Daily deaths over 300 for first time in 2021; CoWIN upgraded to accept 1 crore registrations per day after April 1.

March 28, 2021 09:45 am | Updated 11:11 pm IST

The 62,714 new cases were reported in a span of 24 hours, the highest since October 16, 2020, while the death toll increased to 1,61,552 with 312 daily new fatalities, the highest in around three months, the data updated at 8 a.m. showed. The daily death toll of 312 is the highest since December 25, 2020 when 336 new deaths were reported.

As many as 63,371 new infections were recorded in a span of 24 hours on October 16.

Meanwhile, the CoWIN portal for COVID-19 vaccine registration has been ramped up to accept on one crore registrations and record vaccination of 50 lakh persons per day, R.S. Sharma, Chairman, Empowered Group on COVID vaccination told The Hindu. Mr Sharma explained that the system has been geared up to accommodate the registration rush and vaccination load anticipated from April 1 when vaccination will be offered for anyone 45 years and above.

You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here . A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.

Here are the latest updates:

 

Maharashtra

 

Maharashtra CM mulls lockdown with 'minimum impact on economy'

In view of the rise in fresh COVID-19 cases, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday asked officials to prepare a plan for implementation of a lockdown which will have a minimum impact on the economy on the recommendation of the State COVID-19 task force, an official release said.

In a meeting held with the Chief Minster, Health Minister Rajesh Tope and other officials, members of the task force expressed apprehension that the State might report 40,000 fresh cases in the next 24 hours, it said.

During the meeting, the CM reviewed health infrastructure including availability of beds, oxygen, medicines etc. in the State to treat COVID-19 patients.

 

Karnataka

Over 470 children below 10 years infected with COVID-19 in Bengaluru since March 1

Over 470 children below the age of 10 have been infected with COVID-19 , since the beginning of this month in Bengaluru, as the city is witnessing a spike in infections.

A total of 244 boys and 228 girls have been infected from March 1 to 26, official data showed.

The cases among children were limited to eight to nine daily during the early days of this month but they have steadily risen to 46 on March 26.

 

 

Sunil Chhetri says he has fully recovered from COVID-19

India's talismanic football captain Sunil Chhetri on Sunday said he has recovered from COVID-19, days after testing positive for the infection that ruled him out of the international friendlies against Oman and the UAE.

The development came on the eve of India's second international friendly against UAE in Dubai, from which he has already been ruled out. India held fancied Oman to a 1-1 draw in the first match on Thursday.

 

Delhi

Kejriwal won't attend public Holi programmes, appeals to people to avoid crowds

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said he will not attend any public Holi programme due to the increasing number of coronavirus cases and appealed to the people to celebrate the festival with their families and avoid crowds.

The national capital recorded 1,558 cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, the highest since since December 15 when 1,617 people tested positive for the virus, according to official data.

 

Delhi

COVID-19 vaccination centre set up inside Tihar Jail

The Delhi Prisons Department has set up a COVID-19 vaccination centre inside Tihar Jail to vaccinate eligible inmates, officials said on Sunday.

A total of 326 inmates in the Delhi’s prisons are above 60 years, and over 300 are in the 45-59 age bracket with comorbidities. These two categories are eligible for vaccination in the ongoing nationwide drive.

The centre was set up on Tuesday in the central jail hospital at jail number 3, they said.

 

New Delhi

Daily deaths over 300 for first time this year

The 62,714 new cases were reported in a span of 24 hours, the highest since October 16, 2020, while the death toll increased to 1,61,552 with 312 daily new fatalities, the highest in around three months, the data updated at 8 a.m. showed.

The daily death toll of 312 is the highest since December 25, 2020 when 336 new deaths were reported.

As many as 63,371 new infections were recorded in a span of 24 hours on October 16.

New Delhi

The Hindu Explains | Will the ‘double mutant’ novel coronavirus strain found in India lead to a further rise in infections?

The story so far: The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), a unit of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, reported this week that a unique “double mutant” variant of the novel coronavirus had been found in India. It was reported in about 200 cases in Maharashtra, and some in Delhi and Punjab. The NCDC also said about 771 cases of variants of concern (VOCs) were detected in over 10,000 samples shared by States and Union Territories.

 

Delhi

Delhi govt. puts cap on number of guests at marriage, other events in the city

In view of the recent surge in coronavirus cases in the national capital, the Delhi government on Saturday put a cap of 200 guests in marriage and other events at open-air venues and of 100 people for closed spaces in the city.

In an order, Chief Secretary Vijay Dev said not more than 50 people will be allowed at funerals in the national capital.

Mr. Dev, who is also the chairperson of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority's (DDMA) State executive committee, said the order will be in force till April 30.

He, however, said status quo will be maintained regarding current permissible and prohibited activities in the city. - PTI

Madhya Pradesh

Sunday lockdown in 12 cities in Madhya Pradesh

There will be a lockdown in 12 cities in Madhya Pradesh on Sundays in view of rising coronavirus cases, an official said on Saturday.

Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Rajesh Rajora said lockdown will be in force from 10 p.m. on Saturday to 6 a.m. on Monday in 12 cities across 11 districts till further orders.

The cities where restrictions will be imposed are: Gwalior, Ujjain, Vidisha, Narsinghpur, Sausar (Chhindwara district), Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Betul, Ratlam, Chhindwara and Khargone. - PTI

Maharashtra

Traders protest new restrictions

Traders in some parts of the state on Saturday opposed the new restrictions imposed by the Maharashtra government to curb the surge in the coronavirus cases.

With the state reporting highest-ever daily rise in cases on Friday, strict, lockdown-like restrictions have been imposed in districts such as Beed, Latur and Osmanabad.

Social gatherings of all kinds have been banned till April 30 across the state.

Traders in Beed district on Saturday held a protest rally opposing the restrictions. - PTI

Karnataka

Second wave: Rate of spread is a concern

While some argue that second wave in Karnataka will not be as severe as the first outbreak, epidemiologists say that the second wave, on the contrary, could be worse.

This is mainly because the Reproductive Number (R. No) in Karnataka stands at 1.6 as on March 25. This means for every 10 people infected, a further 16 persons will be infected by them. The last time Karnataka had a similar R. No. was on July 19, 2020, when the State had a total of 59,625. On that day (July 19, 2020) as many as 4,120 cases were reported. Karnataka’s R. No as on March 25 is higher than the national average of 1.48. Besides, it is the third highest after Bihar (2.21) and Chhattisgarh (2.07).

 

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