Coronavirus live updates: Maharashtra reports 31,855 new Covid cases in highest single-day spike

India recorded 47,262 fresh coronavirus cases in a day, the highest single-day rise so far this year, taking the nationwide Covid-19 tally to 1,17,34,058, the Union health ministry said on Wednesday. The active caseload registered an increased for the 14th day in row and was recorded at 3,68,457, comprising 3.14 per cent of the total infections, while the recovery rate further dropped to 95.49 per cent, the ministry data updated at 8 am said.

The Russian Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine exporter on Tuesday threatened Pakistan to "re-export" the 50,000 doses if the company's desired price is not set by the government soon. "AGP Limited, which imported the 50,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine, has threatened to re-export the shipment if their desired price is not fixed by the government. The drug pricing committee of DRAP (Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan had recommended Rs 8,449 for two doses of the vaccine, which is not acceptable to the importer," an official of the federal government told Geo.tv on condition of anonymity. The importer also said selling the shipment to some other country was "an option if an appropriate price is not fixed" of their product.

Brazil's daily Covid-19 death toll soared past 3,000 for the first time Tuesday as the hard-hit country struggled to contain a surge of cases that has pushed many hospitals to breaking point. The health ministry registered a record 3,251 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing Brazil's overall death toll to nearly 299,000 -- second only to the United States. The latest bleak milestone came on the same day President Jair Bolsonaro installed his fourth health minister of the pandemic, facing pressure to change tack after downplaying the virus and flouting expert advice on containing it.

After its neighbouring states Maharashtra and Rajasthan, Gujarat on Tuesday announced a mandatory negative RT-PCR test report for Covid-19 for entry into the state from Maharashtra. The notification from the state health department says that the test should have been conducted no more than 72 hours before the entry. The order adds that ‘a high number of cases’ that tested positive in Gujarat in the recent times had returned from Maharashtra or had come in contact with thos who did, thus they found the step necessary. ‘All those entering Gujarat from Maharashtra must be screened,’ added the order. It needs mention that the two states share high traffic due to economic and cultural relationship between south Gujarat and north Maharashtra. The Ahmedabad-Mumbai corridor is also one of the busiest in the country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was vaccinated against Covid-19 Tuesday out of sight of the cameras, his spokesman said, prompting questions about whether the gesture will boost comparatively low immunisation rates in Russia. Dmitry Peskov said Putin is feeling fine after getting the shot and is planning a regular workday Wednesday. He explained earlier Tuesday that the president would get the vaccine out of the public eye because “when it comes to getting vaccinated on camera, he has never supported that, he doesn't like that”.