India records over 2.34 lakh fresh COVID-19 cases, more than 1,300 deaths

Relatives interact with family members, who are admitted inside a COVID-19 hospital via video call. Pic/PTI

India reported its highest-ever single-day spike of COVID-19 cases with over 2.34 lakh new cases and more than 1,300 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry on Saturday.

In the last 24 hours, 1,341 COVID-related deaths were reported in the country taking the death toll to 1,75,649. As many as 2,34,692 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in India in the last 24 hours.

With this, the total number of cases has gone up to 1,45,26,609. The active number of cases stands at 16,79,740. In the last 24 hours, 1,23,354 people recovered from the disease. With this, the total recoveries reached 1,26,71,220.

Vax coverage nears 12 crore

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country touched 12 crore on Saturday as part of the world's largest inoculation drive with over 30 lakh doses administered in the last 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry.

According to the Ministry, cumulatively, 11,99,37,641 vaccine doses have been administered through 17,37,539 sessions, as per the provisional report on Saturday. These include 91,05,429 healthcare workers (HCWs), who have taken the first dose, and 56,70,818 HCWs, who have taken the second dose.

Goa won't help other states

The Goa government on Saturday banned the export of oxygen cylinders outside the state because of an increase in the requirement of the same to treat the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the state, said state health minister Vishwajit Rane.

"In view of the rising COVID-19 cases in Goa, the requirement for oxygen has gone up. Export of oxygen cylinders outside the state, therefore, has been banned with immediate effect. All industrial oxygen requirements will be diverted towards the health services, GMC and COVID-19 hospitals," he said.

Govt cuts Remdesivir MRP

Spelling huge relief for lakhs of COVID-19 patients, the government has slashed the prices of the ‘lifesaver' Remdesivir injection by nearly 50 per cent, to R2,450 per injection now.

Andhra receives more vax

Andhra Pradesh on Saturday received six lakh additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine. "At least five lakh doses of Covishield from Pune's Serum Institute of India (SII) and one lakh Covaxin doses from Hyderabad's Bharat Biotech were received on Saturday," said a health official.

This comes a day after Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him for 60 lakh more doses. Reddy promised Modi that if the state receives 60 lakh more doses of the vaccine, he will ensure that all the citizens above 45 years are vaccinated for the first dose in the next three weeks.

Railways to impose fine

Not wearing masks on railway premises and in trains can attract a fine of up to R500, with the national transporter now incorporating it as an offence under the Railway Act, according to an order issued on Saturday. This is the latest in a slew of measures that the railways has taken to ensure compliance of the various COVID-19 protocols issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs to restrict the spread of the virus. The order also said that this would come into immediate effect for six months till further instructions are issued.

1,45,26,609
Total number of cases in the country as of Saturday

1,75,649
Total no of deaths due to the virus in India

1,26,71,220
Patients recovered and discharged in India by saturday

Rs 500
Fine for not wearing masks on railway premises and trains

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