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

Bhalla said after assessing the situation, guidelines for effective control of Covid-19 were issued by the Ministry of home affairs on March 23 and it has been emphasised that states and UTs should strictly enforce the 'test-track-treat' protocol.

The home secretary also asked chief secretaries to issue necessary instructions to district administrations and police authorities to scrupulously enforce Covid-19 appropriate behaviour and SOPs in all public gatherings during the upcoming festivals.

In a communication to chief secretaries of all states and union territories (UTs), Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said the country is passing through a critical juncture as Covid-19 cases and deaths have been on the rise.

The Centre further said that states and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may impose local restrictions, at district/sub-district and city/ward level, to contain the spread of coronavirus.

It has been observed that there is a general laxity in the observance of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, MHA added.

NMMC doctors conduct Covid-19 Rapid Antigen test customers before entering inside the mall at Seawoods in Navi Mumbai on Friday, NMMC will conduct three days in a week,Friday,Saturday and Sunday covid-19 Rapid test to customers before entering malls in Navi Mumbai.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla writes to all states and Union Territories to take necessary measures in view of upcoming festivals.

Maharashtra: Nagpur District reported 4095 new Covid-19 cases, 1943 recoveries and 35 Death, in the last 24 hours, as per Civil Surgeon.

1815 new Covid-19 cases, 1917 recoveries and 14 deaths in Kerala today. Number of active cases now at 24,274; so far 10,84,585 patients have recovered. Death toll stands at 4,553.

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray chairs a meeting of all divisional commissioners, collectors, SPs, & senior doctors of district hospitals to review Covid-19 situation in the state, through video conference.

Govt of India was beside us during our good & bad times. This time India hands over 109 Ambulances for people of Bangladesh. I extend my heartiest thanks to PM Modi, his govt & people of India. Before that India had cooperated with us & gifted us vaccines for Covid: Bangladesh PM

India is very happy that Made in India (Covid-19) vaccines are being used by our brothers and sisters of Bangladesh: PM Narendra Modi in Dhaka

During Covid, both countries worked in tandem. India is delighted that 'Made In India' vaccines are treating people of Bangladesh: PM Modi

The vaccination drive is being coordinated as a 'Jan Bhagidari Aandolan' involving many stakeholders like ministries, departments, professional bodies, medical colleges, NGOs, CSOs, media houses, private sector, youth and women volunteer groups, he added.

Applauding the collaborative approach followed by India for planning and execution of the vaccination drive, Vardhan propounded the exercise as an excellent example of how the federal system can work in synergy to maximize the reach of a programme.

To speed up the pace of the vaccination drive, the Centre has lifted time restrictions and people can now get immunised round the clock according to their convenience across India, he said.