India's COVID-19 caseload surpassed the somber one-crore mark Saturday, adding 10 lakh cases in nearly a month, while the total number of recoveries surged to 95.50 lakh, according to the Union health ministry data.
Out of the total 190 samples, 180 (94.74 per cent) were found infected with Omicron, three with the Delta variant (1.58 per cent), one with Delta (0.53 per cent) and six with other strains of coronavirus (3.16 per cent), a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) release said, citing test results of the ninth round of genome sequencing in the city.
The ED has summoned Raj in a case pertaining to alleged irregularities related to Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services loan to Kohinoor CTNL.
The number of active cases has gone up to 4,05,155, accounting for 1.28 per cent of the total caseload, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.38 per cent, the data showed.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,06,67,741 which translates to a national COVID-19 recovery rate of 97.30 per cent and the case fatality rate stands at 1.42 per cent.
The central government on Thursday said the months of September and October will be crucial in pandemic management and cautioned that festivals should be celebrated in accordance with COVID-19-appropriate behaviour.
Mumbai Congress president Bhai Jagtap on Tuesday withdrew his plea filed in the Bombay high court for seeking a direction to the Maharashtra government to grant permission for the party's scheduled rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on December 28.
"We do not want to say anything about tomorrow's ceremony... we are only praying that nothing untoward happens," the court said while hearing a plea of NGO Wecom Trust on whether the Shivaji Park was a playground or a recreation ground.
The death toll climbed to 4,59,873 with 221 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.
It is the second death due to this variant in Maharashtra as it had claimed the life of an 80-year-old woman from Ratnagiri district on June 13.
The active COVID-19 caseload continued to remain below 5 lakh. There are 4,16,082 active coronavirus infections in the country which comprises 4.35 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.
'The caller is a truck driver from Marathwada region of Maharashtra. We have learnt that he has a habit of drinking. He has been detained along with one more person and the process to register an offence is currently on,' Mumbai police said.
The death toll climbed to 4,69,724 with 477 fresh fatalities including, 403 from Kerala, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The idols of Lord Ganesh, the god of prosperity and wisdom and a slayer of obstacles ('vighna-harta'), will be installed in homes across the state with pomp and gaiety.
This is for the first time the rally will not be held at the Shivaji Park, where party workers gather in large numbers to hear the party chief address them on Dussehra evening.
The Indian Meteorological Department, meanwhile, warned of intense spell of 30 to 50 mm rainfall per hour with strong winds in Mumbai and suburban areas.
The 50 per cent capacity rule will not apply to offices dealing with health and other essential services.
The active cases comprise 0.90 per cent of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.77 per cent, the highest since March 2020, the ministry said.
'We have been hardcore Hindutvawadi, are so today and will be so tomorrow too'
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.58 per cent and the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 2.37 per cent, according to the ministry.
The death toll climbed to 4,42,655 with 338 daily fatalities reported on Sunday, the data released at 8 am showed.
Mumbai reported 529 new cases -- the lowest since February 16 -- and 19 deaths, taking the tally to 7,17,108 and the toll to 15,202, the department said.
The state reported 4,787 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the highest one-day count this year.
The number of fresh cases of the coronavirus infection has been recorded below 15,000 for the last 47 days now.
The death toll climbed to 4,62,690 with 501 fresh fatalities, including 419 from Kerala, according to the data updated at 8 am.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 20,47,89,784 samples have been tested up to February 11 with 7,65,944 samples being tested on Thursday.
The death toll has climbed to 4,60,791 with 526 more fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The movement of maids, cooks, drivers, house help, nurses, and medical attendee providing service to senior citizens and ailing people at home will be allowed between 7 am and 10 pm on all days during the restrictions, including the weekend lockdowns.
The petitioner had raised concerns that beggars were not following social distancing norms or rules like wearing masks while approaching people on road.
Probe found that they had opened the manhole so that the water in the area, which had entered their houses, could drain out, police said.
The city has been witnessing heavy rains since Tuesday night, resulting in water logging in many areas.
The Republic Day parade, which will begin at around 1030 am, will be a unique mix of the country's military prowess and cultural diversity, depicting the country's growing indigenous capabilities, Nari Shakti and emergence of a 'New India'.
Young prodigy Yashasvi Jaiswal on Thursday said batting stalwart Rahul Dravid had advised him to focus on each ball and this suggestion immensely helped him.
'The problem is delaying (or missing) the second dose would probably keep you at a 20 per cent risk of still getting COVID-19, till you are fully immunised.'
Rediff readers tell us how they are celebrating the festival.
The second wave is expected based on what is happening in Europe, the govt said.
A special court in Mumbai on Monday remanded Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) till August 4 in a money laundering case.
We had requested the government to make a law on construction of Ram Temple but the government did not do that, Thackeray said.
Several citizens expressed anger and frustration at the state of affairs as many of them are due for their second dose since they had taken the first jab over 42 days back.
The government said that processions should not be taken out before installing and immersing idols.
