COVID-19: News
France to close schools, ban domestic travel as virus surges
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced a three-week nationwide school closure and a month-long domestic travel ban, as the rapid spread of the virus ramped up pressure on hospitals.
COVID-19: Be ready for stricter steps, Maharashtra HM Tope says
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said that people should be ready for stringent measures in the coming days to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
Nearly 3,000 caught without masks on North Goa beaches
The Pernem and Calangute Police in the North Goa district have so far this year caught 2,957 people without masks on beaches and collected Rs. 5.86 lakh as fine from them, officials said on Wednesday.
Nashik imposes entry fee for markets to contain coronavirus surge
Amid a surge in coronavirus cases in Nashik, the district authorities have imposed fresh restrictions on market areas to prevent them from getting overcrowded.
No permit required for vehicles carrying oxygen till September 30
The government on Tuesday said it has extended the exemption from permit requirement for transport vehicles carrying oxygen till September 30, 2021, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
87% Indian businesses considering long-term work from home plans: Survey
87 percent of businesses in India are mulling over making work from home a permanent option for their employees, according to a survey report by BCG-Zoom.
Harmanpreet Kaur tests positive for COVID-19
The Indian women's T20I team captain Harmanpreet Kaur has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms.
Fatima Sana Shaikh becomes latest Bollywood star to contract COVID-19
Actress Fatima Sana Shaikh has become the latest Bollywood celeb to contract the deadly coronavirus. The Ludo star confirmed the news on social media on Monday.
Life insurers spend Rs. 2,000 crore on COVID-19 death claims
A total of 24 life insurance companies spent crores of rupees on COVID-19 death claims that are over and above the death claims that they usually receive every year.
Why India's second COVID-19 wave may be worst than first
India witnessed a surge of over 62,000 fresh coronavirus cases on Friday—the highest single-day spike since October 16—indicating it is in the midst of a second COVID-19 wave, which could last until May end.
Many people commute during silence hour in Punjab
Many people kept moving in their vehicles in Punjab from 11 am till noon on Saturday as they say they were unaware of the state government's decision to observe an hour's silence in memory of those who succumbed to COVID-19.
No possibility of lockdown in Delhi: Satyendar Jain
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday dismissed any possibility of imposing another lockdown in Delhi, saying it was not a solution to check the spread of the coronavirus that is again surging rapidly.
Mathura woman contracts a South African strain of COVID-19
A Mathura village woman was on Friday found to have been infected earlier this month with a South African strain of COVID-19, while two district health workers have contracted the disease despite having been given both shots of anti-COVID-19 vaccine.
HP: Educational institutions to remain closed till April 4
The Himachal Pradesh government ordered the closure of all educational institutions including colleges and schools till April 4 as a precautionary measure due to the spike in COVID-19 cases in the state.
16 employees of a Rishikesh hotel test positive for COVID-19
A leading hotel in Rishikesh has been closed for 48 hours as a precautionary measure after 16 of its employees tested positive for COVID-19 in a day, an official said on Friday.
Holi and Shab-e-Barat celebrations banned in Nagpur
The civic body in Maharashtra's Nagpur city on Friday issued a notification banning Holi celebrations and Shab-e-Barat processions in public and private places amid the rise in COVID-19 cases.
Ramp up COVID-19 testing facilities in Uttar Pradesh: Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials that coronavirus testing facilities should be set up at railway stations, bus depots, and airports in the state in view of a greater movement of people for the Holi festival.
Ranbir Kapoor recovers from COVID-19, confirms uncle Randhir
Actor Ranbir Kapoor has defeated COVID-19, his uncle, actor Randhir Kapoor, confirmed on Thursday, reports PTI. He is doing well, Kapoor Sr. asserted.
Cops turn counselor as kin reject woman after COVID-19 recovery
The family members of a 70-year-old woman in Pune refused to let her return home after she recovered from a coronavirus infection in a local hospital, a police official said.
Mumbaikars fined Rs. 4-crore in a month for going maskless
Mumbai Police has collected a fine of Rs. four crore in less than a month from two lakh people in the city who were found not wearing masks despite the surge in COVID-19 cases, an official said on Thursday.
Three Kolkata schools shut as students, teacher found COVID-19 positive
Three schools in Kolkata shut down their campuses after COVID-19 cases were detected, officials said on Wednesday.
In Surat, 34 autorickshaw drivers found infected in single day
At least 34 autorickshaw drivers have tested positive for coronavirus in a single day during a special drive in Gujarat's Surat to identify potential super-spreaders, an official said on Tuesday.
Millionaire founder of US restaurant dies by suicide after COVID-19
Kent Taylor, the 65-year-old founder and CEO of Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain, died by suicide last week after reportedly suffering from several post-coronavirus symptoms, including severe tinnitus.
AstraZeneca says US trial data shows vaccine 79% effective
AstraZeneca says advanced trial data from a US study on its COVID-19 vaccine shows it is 79 percent effective.
Dharavi witnesses a 62% jump in COVID-19 cases this month
Dharavi, the biggest slum in Mumbai, has reported 272 coronavirus cases so far in March as against the entire February's infection count of 168, a rise of 62 percent, civic officials said on Saturday.
Amid rising COVID-19 cases, lockdown an option, says Maharashtra CM
A day after Maharashtra witnessed the highest one-day spike of 25,833 COVID-19 cases, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said a lockdown is an option but he trusts people to follow the norms on their own.
Children between 0-14 years less affected by COVID-19: Health Minister
An analysis shows that children between 0-14 years are less affected by COVID-19, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.
1.25 lakh people will be vaccinated in Delhi daily: Kejriwal
Asserting that the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in the national capital was not a cause for worry, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced that the number of people vaccinated in Delhi each day will be raised from around 40,000 to 1.25 lakh.
Road accidents killed more people than COVID-19 last year: Gadkari
The government is serious about reducing road accidents as more people died from such mishaps last year than from COVID-19 infection, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday.
As COVID-19 cases surge, Jain asks people to shun complacency
Amid a surge in daily COVID-19 cases in the national capital, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday asked people to be cautious and observe all safety norms, and not get complacent about the pandemic situation in the city.
India vs England: Remaining T20Is to be played behind closed-doors
In a major development, the remaining three T20Is between India and England in Ahmedabad will be played behind closed doors.
Satyendar Jain asserts COVID-19 situation in Delhi is under control
Amid a spike in daily COVID-19 cases in the city, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Monday said that the pandemic situation in the national capital is under control as long as the positivity rate is below one percent.
Gauahar Khan booked for shooting despite testing positive for COVID-19
Actress Gauahar Khan has been booked by Mumbai Police for allegedly shooting even after she tested positive for COVID-19.
No one should be troubled during Kumbh: Uttarakhand CM
Following COVID-19 precautions is necessary during the ongoing Haridwar Kumbh but no one should be deprived of taking a holy dip in the Ganga during it, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat said on Sunday.
#HealthBytes: Received your first COVID-19 shot? Learn about its aftercare
Over 1.1cr medical personnel got the shot in the first COVID-19 vaccine drive, which the Government of India rolled out on January 16, 2021.
Fliers violating COVID-19 norms could be put on no-fly list
The Civil Aviation Ministry on Saturday said passengers refusing to adhere to COVID-19 protocols and norms like wearing masks and maintaining social distancing could attract action as per law.
Coronavirus: India records 2021's biggest single-day spike with 24,882 cases
India recorded 24,882 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours—the highest single-day spike in the last 83 days—taking the tally to 1.13 crore, showed the Health Ministry data Saturday morning.
700 people attend wedding in Maharashtra, organizers 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 has registered a case against its organizers, civic authorities said.
PM Modi's mother receives first dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother, Heeraben Modi, received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine today, he tweeted this afternoon.
Mumbai: After spike in COVID-19 cases, BMC says lockdown possible
A day after Mumbai reported more than 1,500 coronavirus cases, the city's civic body - Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) - has said that it is open to all the options to curb the virus' spread, including a lockdown.