Highlights: UK detects six cases of Brazilian Covid-19 variant

India's tally of cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is at 11,096,731 after the Union health ministry on Sunday said that the country logged 16,752 new infections in the preceding 24 hours. From March 1, India will commence phase 2 of its Covid-19 vaccination drive, with those above 60 and those above 45 with co-morbidities eligible for vaccine shots. The world's largest drive against the pandemic began here on January 16, with healthcare workers and frontline workers being inoculated against the viral disease.

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The United States, whose infection tally and related death toll are both highest globally, has approved a third vaccine against the disease. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Saturday cleared Johnson & Johnson shot that works with just one dose instead of two. The two vaccines that were cleared earlier and are currently in use are by Pfizer-BioNTech SE and Moderna. According to John Hopkins University, the US has an infection tally of over 28.5 million with a related death toll of nearly 512,000.

Follow all the updates here:

• FEB 28, 2021 11:39 PM IST

  UK detects six cases of Brazilian Covid-19 variant

  Public Health England (PHE) said on Sunday that six cases of the Brazilian variant of the coronavirus have been detected in the United Kingdom (UK) and warned that the mutation may be more resistant to vaccines. “The P.1 variant has been designated ‘of concern’ as it shares some important mutations with the variant first identified in South Africa,” PHE added.

• FEB 28, 2021 11:01 PM IST

  'People must wear masks and avoid lockdown': Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

  I do not want to impose lockdown in the state but 'majboori' is also something. People must wear masks and avoid lockdown: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on increasing #COVID19 cases in the state pic.twitter.com/8e9iteRu6I

  — ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2021

  Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray has said that he doesn't want to impose lockdown in the state, but feels helpless about the rising Covid-19 cases in the state. He also asked the people to wear masks and avoid lockdown, reports ANI.

• FEB 28, 2021 10:32 PM IST

  Tamil Nadu extends Covid-19 lockdown till March 31

  Lockdown in Tamil Nadu extended till March 31; the district administration shall take all necessary measures to promote #COVID19 appropriate behaviour and ensure wearing of face masks, hand hygiene and social distancing pic.twitter.com/OF6uZ6UySM

  — ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2021

  The Tamil Nadu government has extended the Covid-19 lockdown until March 31 in the state, reports ANI.

• FEB 28, 2021 09:59 PM IST

  Chennai tests over 2 lakh symptomatic patients for Covid-19 via fever clinics

  1,06,373 Fever clinics were conducted in Chennai from 08-05-2020 till 28-02-2021. 51,83,179 people attended the clinics and 2,15,721 symptomatic patients were identified & tested for COVID-19 and others given medicines for minor ailments.#Covid19Chennai#ChennaiCorporation‌‌ pic.twitter.com/i8FJYo0scm

  — Greater Chennai Corporation (@chennaicorp) February 28, 2021

  Greater Chennai Corporation has tested 2,15,721 symptomatic patients for Covid-19 via 1,06,373 fever clinics conducted in the city since May 8, 2020. 51,83,179 people have attended these clinics.

• FEB 28, 2021 09:53 PM IST

  UK: 20.09 million people received first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine

  20,089,551 protected with first dose. Credit to the whole team who have worked so hard. A huge thank you🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 💉💉💉 https://t.co/hYdj1fkZ1Z

  — Nadhim Zahawi (@nadhimzahawi) February 28, 2021

  UK Minister for Covid-19 vaccine deployment Nadhim Zahawi has said that 20,089,551 people have received the first dose of the vaccine in the country.

• FEB 28, 2021 09:43 PM IST

  Indonesia reports 5,560 new Covid-19 cases; tally reaches 13,34,634

  Indonesia reported 5,560 cases and 185 deaths, taking the country's tally to 13,34,634 cases and 36,1666 deaths, according to the health ministry, reports ANI. Total recoveries reached 11,42,703 patients after 6,649 people were discharged on Sunday.

• FEB 28, 2021 09:17 PM IST

  Maharashtra reports 8,293 new Covid-19 cases, 62 deaths in last 24 hours

  Maharashtra reported 8,293 new COVID-19 cases, 3,753 recoveries, and 62 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per State Health Department
  
  Total cases: 21,55,070
  Total recoveries: 20,24,704
  Death toll: 52,154
  Active cases: 77,008 pic.twitter.com/WS6UAByWLv

  — ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2021

  Maharashtra reported 8,293 new Covid-19 cases and 62 deaths, taking the tally to 21,55,070 cases and 52,154 deaths, reports ANI.

• FEB 28, 2021 08:35 PM IST

  Punjab reports 582 new Covid-19 cases, tally reaches 1,82,176 cases

  582 new #COVID19 cases reported in Punjab today, as per the State government
  
  Total cases:1,82,176
  
  Total discharges: 1,71,712
  
  Active cases: 4,632 pic.twitter.com/v589NaHeiK

  — ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2021

  Punjab reported 582 new Covid-19 cases as the tally reached 1,82,176 cases. Total recoveries so far stands at 1,71,712 patients and 5832 people have lost their lives for the disease. Active caseload stands at 4,632 patients, reports ANI.

• FEB 28, 2021 07:48 PM IST

  Registration in Co-WIN 2.0 portal to open at 9am on March 1

  #LargestVaccineDrive
  
  Registration for next phase of #COVID19 Vaccination on Co-WIN2.0 portal will open at 9:00 am on 1st March 2021 at https://t.co/4VNaXjkGyphttps://t.co/gIPlgxsmcz pic.twitter.com/37akMelSJh

  — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) February 28, 2021

  Registration for the second phase of Covid-19 vaccination on CO-Win 2.0 portal will open at 9am on March 1, 2021.

• FEB 28, 2021 06:34 PM IST

  Kerala reports 3,254 new Covid-19 cases, 15 deaths; death toll at 4,197

  3,254 new COVID19 cases & 15 deaths reported in Kerala today. There are 49,420 active cases in the state and 10,05,497 people have recovered so far. The death toll is at 4,197: Kerala government

  — ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2021

  With 3,254 new Covid-19 cases and 15 deaths, Kerala's Covid-19 tally reached 10,05,497 cases, reports ANI.

• FEB 28, 2021 06:28 PM IST

  Andhra Pradesh reports 117 new Covid-19 cases, tally reaches 8,89,916

  Andhra Pradesh reports 117 new #COVID19 cases taking total cases to 8,89,916. Total active cases at 718, recoveries at 8,82,029 and death toll at 7,169: State Government pic.twitter.com/twBrdeQ03H

  — ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2021

  With 117 new Covid-19 cases, Andhra Pradesh's tally reached 8,89,916. Total recoveries stand at 8,82,029 patients and the state currently has 718 active cases. Death toll reached 7,169, reports ANI.

• FEB 28, 2021 06:17 PM IST

  Germany imposes additional restrictions on travelers from northeastern France

  Germany has imposed additional Covid-19 related restrictions, including a recent Covid-19 negative test certificate, on travelers from Moselle region in northeastern France, reports the Associated Press.

  Also, Moselle would be added to Germany's "variant of concern" list, according to the Robert Koch Institute.

• FEB 28, 2021 04:51 PM IST

  Delhi reports 197 new Covid-19 cases, one fatality; active cases stand at 1,335

  Delhi reports 197 new #COVID19 cases, 168 recoveries and one death today, as per Delhi government
  
  Total cases: 6,39,289
  Total recoveries: 6,27,044
  Death toll: 10,910
  
  Active cases: 1,335 pic.twitter.com/trNJeWrveB

  — ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2021

  With 197 new Covid-19 cases and one fatality, Delhi's Covid-19 tally reached 6,39,289 cases and 10,910 deaths, reports ANI.

• FEB 28, 2021 03:36 PM IST

  Maharashtra Covid-19 surge: Curfew in Hingoli from March 1 to 7

  In the wake of a rise in daily Covid-19 cases in Hingoli, the local administration has decide to impose curfew in the district from March 1 to 7, reports PTI.

  Click here to read more

• FEB 28, 2021 01:52 PM IST

  Schools, colleges in Pune to remain closed till March 14, announces city mayor

  Schools, colleges, private coaching classes to remain closed till 14th March, due to the rise in Covid-19 cases. No public movement expect essential services allowed between 11pm to 6am. Restrictions imposed in Pune city earlier extended till 14 Mar: Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol

• FEB 28, 2021 01:27 PM IST

  8 arrested for Denmark anti-lockdown protest

  Danish police have said they arrested eight people in an anti-lockdown demonstration in the capital city of Copenhagen late Saturday. the largely peaceful rally comprised of around 1,200 people.

• FEB 28, 2021 01:00 PM IST

  176 new Covid-19 cases and 1 death in Telangana

  Telangana reported 176 new Covid-19 cases and one related death taking the total tally of cases to 2,98,807 and the toll to 1,634 respectively,

• FEB 28, 2021 12:06 PM IST

  Over 86% of India's Covid-19 cases in last 24 hours from 6 states: Health ministry

  Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat have shown a surge in new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours. 86.37% of the new cases are from these six states: Health ministry

• FEB 28, 2021 12:01 PM IST

  No deaths in 19 states/UTs in last 24 hours: Health ministry

  19 states/UTs report no deaths in the last 24 hours. These are UP, Andhra Pradesh, J&K, Odisha, Goa, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Sikkim, Ladakh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland, A&N Islands, D&D & D&N and Arunachal Pradesh: Health ministry

• FEB 28, 2021 11:29 AM IST

  Call on helpline number 1075 for Covid-19 related queries: Health ministry

  #IndiaFightsCorona:
  
  Please call the 2️⃣4️⃣×7️⃣ toll free National Helpline number 1️⃣0️⃣7️⃣5️⃣ for support, guidance and response to health related queries on #COVID19. States' helpline nos. are available below ⬇️#StaySafe #Unite2FightCorona pic.twitter.com/QQ0SHguOaX

  — #IndiaFightsCorona (@COVIDNewsByMIB) February 28, 2021

  Please call the 24X7 toll free National Helpline number 1075 for support, guidance and response to health related queries on Covid-19: Health ministry

• FEB 28, 2021 10:49 AM IST

  Auckland begins second Covid-19 lockdown in February

  New Zealand's largest city of Auckland began its second Covid-19 lockdown for February. The seven-day lockdown of a population of nearly 2 million, was announced late on Saturday by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

• FEB 28, 2021 10:31 AM IST

  Over 4,500 new Covid-19 cases in Chile

  Chile records 4,523 new Covid-19 cases and 76 deaths. National infection tally at 821,418 including 23,585 active cases and 20,476 deaths.

• FEB 28, 2021 10:06 AM IST

  216,231,106 samples tested for Covid-19: ICMR

  COVID-19 Testing Update. For more details visit: https://t.co/dI1pqvXAsZ @MoHFW_INDIA @DeptHealthRes #ICMRFIGHTSCOVID19 #IndiaFightsCOVID19 #CoronaUpdatesInIndia #COVID19 #Unite2FightCorona pic.twitter.com/s5G4C6ebQc

  — ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) February 28, 2021

  Total number of samples tested up to 27th February is 21,62,31,106 including 795,723 samples tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

• FEB 28, 2021 09:40 AM IST

  India's active Covid-19 caseload above 164,000

  4,921 new cases take India's active Covid-19 caseload to 164,511. Recoveries at 10,775,169 with 11,718 fresh discharges. Vaccination count at 14,301,266.

• FEB 28, 2021 09:34 AM IST

  People violating Covid-19 SOPs at Kumbh to face action, warns top official

  People violating Covid-19 SOPs at 2021 Kumbh Mela Haridwar, will be prosecuted. Pilgrims are required to register by uploading a medical certificate, RT-PCR report not older than 72 hours, following which E-pass will be issued for the fair: Om Prakash, chief secretary, Uttarakhand

• FEB 28, 2021 09:19 AM IST

  India records 16,752 new Covid-19 cases, 113 deaths

  India's Covid-19 tally rises to 11,096,731 with 16,752 new cases. Death toll rises to 157,051 with 113 fresh fatalities.

• FEB 28, 2021 09:14 AM IST

  Thailand begins Covid-19 vaccine drive

  Thailand launched its Covid-19 vaccine drive on Sunday, administering shots of vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech Limited. Several cabinet ministers were among those who were inoculated.

• FEB 28, 2021 08:33 AM IST

  Over 61,000 new Covid-19 cases in Brazil

  Brazil records 61,602 new Covid-19 cases and 1,386 related deaths, Tally reaches 10,517,232 while death toll at 254,221.

• FEB 28, 2021 07:59 AM IST

  Odisha makes Covid-19 tests mandatory for passengers coming from 5 states

  Odisha has made the Covid-19 test mandatory for passengers arriving from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh.

• FEB 28, 2021 07:41 AM IST

  US FDA has issued EUA to third Covid-19 vaccine: White House

  US Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for a third safe and effective vaccine to help us defeat the COVID-19 pandemic — the Janssen COVID-19 (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine: The White House

• FEB 28, 2021 07:32 AM IST

  China records 6 new Covid-19 cases

  China recorded six new Covid-19 cases on Feb 27 as against 10 a day before. Infection tally at 89,893 while death toll unchanged at 4,636.