Coronavirus live news updates: At 36,902 cases, Maharashtra sees highest one-day spike; night curfew from March 28

Attributing the sudden spurt in Covid-19 cases in Bengaluru to people with travel history, Karnataka’s health minister K Sudhakar on Thursday said a RT-PCR negative report will be mandatory for those coming into the capital city from all states by any mode of transport. The travel restrictions will be applicable from April 1 and a formal order is awaited. Sudhakar, who reviewed Bengaluru’s Covid situation along with officials of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), said: “There is a daily spike in Covid-19 infections and we found that nearly 60% of those who turned positive in recent days came from other states. Currently, it is mandatory for people travelling from Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab and Chandigarh to carry RT-PCR negative reports before coming to Bengaluru. It’ll now be applicable to all states.” Read more

Covid-19 vaccinations in the city dived on Wednesday, a day after the state saw a large drop in numbers. Across the state, vaccination numbers dropped by 32% on Tuesday compared to the previous day, while in the city the turnout dipped by 6% on Wednesday. The state saw 1,89,001 vaccinations on Tuesday after constantly registering a turnout of over two lakh every day for 11 days. On Monday, the state had touched a record high of 2,76,354 vaccinations. The state had set a target of three lakh vaccinations per day to cover the pool of nearly two crore people from the prioritised groups in the next few months. The state has finished administering 47.8 lakh doses of vaccine since January. Read more

The Covid-19 upsurge continued to breach previous records as both Maharashtra and Mumbai added highest-ever single-day tallies on Thursday. Maharashtra recorded 35,952 cases—including 5,505 from Mumbai. The entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region had 10,062 cases. In an indication that numbers will continue to swell, BMC chief I S Chahal said the administration was bracing for Mumbai to touch 10,000 cases. Even as active cases in the state jumped to 2.6 lakh, the cold comfort of a relatively low death count in the second wave was shattered with Maharashtra again recording more than a 100 deaths (111), including 13 in Mumbai. The state had reported 132 fatalities on March 23. Read more

The highest prevalence was in the South-East district, which stood at 62.2% and the least out of the 11 districts in Delhi was found in the North district, which stood at 49%. Read more

AstraZeneca reiterated on Wednesday that its Covid-19 vaccine was very effective at preventing the disease, based on more recent data than was included when the company announced the interim results of its US clinical trial on Monday. The company said in a news release that its vaccine was 76% effective at preventing Covid-19. That is slightly lower than the number that the company announced earlier this week.

The second wave of the infection might last up to 100 days counted from February 15, says a research report from SBI. The report, titled 'Second wave of infections: The beginning of the end?', also highlights Covid vaccination as a key tool to combat the pandemic, particularly for India which is seeing a surge at a time when vaccination is picking up pace.

Covid vaccination and case tracker

India has not imposed a ban on Covid-19 vaccine exports and will calibrate supply schedules from time to time, sources said.

Keeping in view domestic requirement of vaccines, India will continue to supply Covid-19 vaccines to partner countries in coming weeks & months in a phased manner. This position remains unchanged. We've not imposed any ban on export of vaccines, unlike many other countries

Former CM and Congress leader Harish Rawat taken to AIIMS, Delhi from Dehradun by the state government's air ambulance. Rawat said he was diagnosed with Covid-19 yesterday.

Oman will impose a curfew from 8 pm to 5 am from Sunday and extending until April 8, as the Gulf Arab states tightens restrictions to curb a rise in coronavirus cases, state media reported on Thursday.

No functions related to the festivals of Holi and Shab-e-Barat will be allowed at public places in Rajasthan on March 28 and 29 to curb the spread of coronavirus, a government order said. The state government issued an order on Wednesday restricting public gatherings during Holi and Shab-e-Barat in public places/parks/markets/religious places, etc. on March 28 and 29.

The Danish government decided Thursday to continue its suspension of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 for three more weeks.

Navi Mumbai Municipal corporation has closed outdoor gym and public garden due to Covid cases rising in the city. Gardens will open 5:30am to 10am in morning for jogging.

In view of the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh's Indore, the state government is considering imposing a two-day lockdown in the city on Holi. This was discussed in a meeting chaired by Madhya Pradesh cabinet minister Tulsi Silawat with divisional officers on Thursday.

The UK and European Union (EU) have issued a conciliatory joint statement, pledging to find a "win-win” solution to a row over the supply of Covid-19 vaccines. The EU has been struggling to meet its member-countries requirements and has piled pressure on British-Swedish biopharma giant AstraZeneca to increase the supplies of the Oxford University vaccines and even indicated possible export blocks.

BJP chief JP Nadda visits the Covid-19 vaccination facility at AIIMS, Delhi

The duration of Kumbh Mela in Haridwar has been curtailed to just one month for the first time in its history in view of a recent surge in Covid-19 cases and it has been made mandatory for pilgrims to have a "negative" RT-PCR test report to attend the mega congregation.