Coronavirus India Updates: 43,846 Fresh Cases, Active Tally Tops 3 Lakh
Follow all developments around the Covid-19 outbreak in India here.
Active coronavirus infections in India continue to rise again from their highest in nearly four months, prompting concerns about harsher restrictions to contain the second wave.
India added 43,846 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to nearly 1.16 crore in the world’s second-worst infected country, according to the Health Ministry’s update as of 8 a.m. on March 21, 2021.
New infections have been exceeding single-day recoveries since March 11. That caused the active cases to rise to 3.09 lakh. India’s active cases had crossed 10 lakh in mid-September.
Key figures
Total confirmed cases: 1,15,99,130
Total number of active cases: 3,09,087
Total patients cured/discharged/migrated: 1,11,30,288
Total deaths: 1,59,755
Number of fresh cases in last 24 hours: 43,846
One-day recoveries: 22,956
One-day deaths: 197
A sudden spike in Covid-19 cases have prompted certain states such as Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra to impose fresh restrictions. The southern state ordered closure of schools for classes 9, 10 and 11 from March 22 until further orders. But they would continue to function for the 12th standard students for they have to take the board examination.
Separately, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in Mumbai issued a circular for random rapid antigen testing at crowded places such as malls, khau gallis, railway stations for inbound trains, MSRTC bus depots, market, tourist places, restaurants and government offices. The western state, too, imposed fresh curbs in Nagpur.
The union Health Ministry on Saturday said Maharashtra, Kerala and Punjab cumulatively account for 76.22% of India’s total active caseload, with Maharashtra contributing to 62% of such cases, while Kerala and Punjab account for 8.83% and 5.36% of active cases, respectively.
Meanwhile, India has administered more than 4.46 crore vaccination shots since the immunisation drive began in January, according to data by the ministry. Over 25.40 lakh beneficiaries were given the jab in the last 24 hours..
Global Update
Globally, the coronavirus cases passed 122.7 million, with more than 2.7 million deaths.
Brazil exceeded half a million weekly cases for the second time in a row, capping a week marked by record daily deaths and infections.
The first case of the more-transmissible coronavirus variant first found in Brazil has been reported in New York. The variant is helping fuel a renewed outbreak in Brazil. In the U.S., there are 48 known cases of the P.1 variant in 15 jurisdictions, with 21 cases in Florida alone.
As more people receive the Covid-19 vaccine in Australia and around the world, authorities may consider reducing its quarantine requirements and allowing travelers to isolate at home.
A report by scientists, slated for release this week, will say that China’s thriving wildlife trade is the most likely source of the coronavirus that changed the world last year.
For more global updates, read here...