Surge in COVID-19 cases in eight states: Government

An elderly woman receives the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Ajmer, on Saturday. Pic/PTI

Eight states in the country are displaying an upward trajectory in daily new cases of COVID-19 over the last three weeks, said the union health ministry on Saturday.

These states are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka and Haryana.

In the last 24 hours, Maharashtra recorded 15,817 new cases; Punjab reported 1,408; Karnataka logged 833; Gujarat 715; Tamil Nadu noted 670 cases; Madhya Pradesh 603; Delhi 431 cases and Haryana reported 385, as per the data shared by the ministry of health and family welfare.

Focus testing launched
In view of the growing number of infections in Uttar Pradesh, focus testing will be done across the state from Saturday.

To check the spread of the infection, samples of people working in shops, people living in slums, jails and old-age homes will be taken.

The state health department has completed the preparations for the 15-day ‘focus testing' campaign. A ‘focus testing' campaign was also launched in February this year. This special campaign will run in the state till March 27.

The testing of samples would be done on a daily basis so that the infected persons can be detected and quarantined in time. People coming in contact with infected persons will also be checked.

US bank to help India
The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), America's development bank, will work with the Hyderabad-based Biological E and finance its increased capacity to further the company's endeavour to produce one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2022.

Though DFC did not specify how much money it will invest in Biological E, it stated that it will invest between $5 million to $500 million per eligible project from the private sector to support the manufacture of vaccines.

"It is hard to conceive of an investment with a greater developmental impact than using our financial tools to increase the capacity of vaccine manufacturing to help developing countries in Asia and around the world respond to COVID -19 and other diseases," DFC's Chief Operating Officer (COO) David Marchick said.

Man booked for false news
An FIR has been registered against a laboratory agent for allegedly selling false COVID-19 negative reports to people in Gujarat's Rajkot city.

According to the police, the accused Parag Joshi managed to procure COVID-19 negative certificates for people who needed them for Rs 1,500 each.

Based on a complaint lodged by deputy medical officer Dr Parag Chunara, a case has been registered against Joshi under relevant provisions of the IPC, Disaster Management Act and Gujarat Medical Practitioners' Act at Gandhigram police station, an official said.

Schaeffler to cover vax for employees
Leading industrial and automotive supplier, Schaeffler India Limited announced that it will cover the COVID-19 vaccination cost for all eligible employees. The initiative is aimed to safeguard the well-being of employees from the emerging second wave of deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking about the initiative, "This initiative is in line with our ‘Employee First' philosophy to protect our employees," the firm said.

1,13,33,728
Total number of cases in the country as of Saturday

1,58,446
Total no. of deaths due to the virus in India

1,09,73,260
Patients recovered and discharged in india as of Saturday

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