India COVID-19 Highlights: The weekly positivity rate as 0.43 per cent, according to the ministry.
People in Delhi must wear mask in public places, the state government said today. Those found violating the rule amid rising COVID-19 cases will be fined Rs 500, it said. Those travelling in private cars, however, do not need to wear mask.
The mask rule was eased recently, but due to rising Covid cases, the authorities have made wearing mask a must in public places.
Here are the Highlights on coronavirus cases in India:
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Live Update: Covid Third Leading Cause Of Death Again In 2021, Shows US Study
COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in the US for the second year in a row in 2021, with death rates rising for most age groups, a government study showed on Friday. COVID-19 was the underlying or contributing cause of 460,513 deaths in the US last year, a nearly 20% jump compared to 2020, the study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed. (Reuters)
COVID-19 India News: West Bengal Reports 40 New Cases, Active Tally At 251
West Bengal logged 40 coronavirus cases on Friday while 34 persons recovered from the infection, a state health department bulletin said. The cumulative Covid caseload has gone up to 20,17,940, while 19,96,489 people have recovered so far, the bulletin said. With no fresh deaths recorded in the past several days, the overall death count in the disease remained at 21,200, it said. The recovery rate was 98.94 per cent. The number of active cases in the state as on Friday was 251, including 29 at the hospitals, the bulletin said. (PTI)
Maharashtra Reports 121 COVID-19 Cases, No Death
Maharashtra today reported 121 COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 78,76,503, while the death toll remained unchanged at 1,47,831, an official said. The addition to the tally and toll on Thursday was 179 and one respectively, he pointed out. So far, 77,27,855 persons have been discharged post recovery, including 66 in the last 24 hours, leaving the state with an active caseload of 817, he said.
Delhi Makes Masks Must In Public Places, Those In Private Cars ExemptPeople in Delhi must wear mask in public places, the state government said today. Those found violating the rule amid rising COVID-19 cases will be fined Rs 500, it said. Those travelling in private cars, however, do not need to wear mask.
The mask rule was eased recently, but due to rising Covid cases, the authorities have made wearing mask a must in public places. Read
here Students, Staff Shouldn't Be Allowed To Enter School Premises Without Thermal Scanning
Students and staff should not be allowed to enter school premises without thermal scanning, the Delhi government said on Friday in a set of COVID-19 guidelines issued for schools.
It also said that parents should be advised to not send their children to school if they test positive for the coronavirus.
"Students should also be guided to avoid sharing of lunch, stationary items," the government stated.
The national capital has seen a spurt in COVID-19 cases in the past few days.
On Thursday, Delhi logged 965 fresh Covid cases. It was 1,009 on Wednesday, 632 on Tuesday and 501 on Monday.
Tamil Nadu Makes Face-Mask Mandatory, Violators To Be Fined Rs 500
The decision to collect a fine of Rs 500 from members of the public was in the backdrop of laxity shown among people in adhering to covid-19 protocols while in public places, Principal Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said.
"We have directed the officials of local administration, health and police department to collect fines from those members of public who were not seen wearing a facial mask while in public places,", he told reporters.
After showing a decline in Covid trend, both daily additions as well as the active case in the state have been on the rise over the past few days, with the state witnessing 39 new infections on Thursday.
Admitting that collection of a fine for not wearing a mask was relaxed earlier (as new cases were waning in Tamil Nadu), Mr Radhakrishnan said these days people were not seen wearing a face-mask while in public.
"They may be travelling in a metropolitan bus or in a public place, but they are not seen wearing a mask", he said.
The health department has directed all the district administration to collect the fine of Rs 500 from public for not wearing mask and appealed to the people to follow the covid prevention guidelines as laid down by the government.
Mr Radhakrishnan and senior health department officials were inspecting the premises of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, here which reported 12 coronavirus cases on Thursday, even as 18 new infections have emerged.
"From the 700-odd samples collected yesterday, 18 more people have tested positive totaling 30 till date. All of them are vaccinated and are doing well", he said.
He said the covid-19 protocols should be strictly followed in the campus and the institute authorities have been given directions in this connection.
"All the people who tested positive were having mild symptoms like sore throat, fever and they are under isolation. They do not require hospitalisation. But, it it has been decided to keep King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research (in the city) as a reserve hospital", the official said.
Allaying fears of the spread of the virus, he said 1,16,451 beds were allotted to treat covid-19 patients at government hospitals and only 18 people were admitted.
"Though it is good news, people are not following the covid-19 appropriate behaviour which may lead to resurgence of the virus. Therefore, our appeal is that people should wear a mask while in public places, vaccinate themselves if they are eligible", he said.
To a query, he said the incident at IIT-M was not specific to that particular area and that it may happen anywhere if people do not follow the covid-19 protocols.
Maharashtra's Thane District Reports 20 New COVID-19 Cases In 24 Hours
With the addition of 20 coronavirus positive cases, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra has increased to 7,08,942, an official said today.
These cases were reported on Thursday, he said.
With zero Covid-related deaths in the last 24 hours, the death count in the district remained unchanged at 11,889.
Thane's COVID-19 mortality rate is 1.67 per cent.
In neighbouring Palghar district, the caseload stood at 1,63,607, while the number of deaths is 3,407, another official said.
COVID-19 UPDATE - APRIL 22
2,451 new COVID-19 cases recorded in the last 24 hours.
1,589 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases total recoveries to 4,25,16,068.
Covid deaths in the last 24 hours - 54 (Kerala added 48 backlog deaths)
187.26 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.
India's active Covid caseload currently stands at 14,241.
Active cases stand at 0.03%
Recovery rate currently at 98.75%
Daily positivity rate (0.55%)
Weekly positivity rate (0.47%)
83.38 crore total tests conducted so far; 4,48,939 tests conducted in the last 24 hours.
India today recorded 2,451 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, marginally higher than yesterday.