India's daily COVID-19 cases stayed above the 200,000 mark for a sixth straight day, with cases increasing by 259,170 over the last 24 hours.

With this, India's Covid tally has shot up to 15,321,089 cases. India, also&nbsp;reported the highest-ever single-day spike in Covid-related deaths with 1,761 fatalities. The death toll from the deadly infection stands at 180,550. The country now has over 2 million active cases.

The Health Department stated that Maharashtra witnessed a dip in its daily Covid-19 count by recording 58,924 fresh infections; a day after reporting the highest number of 68,631 cases on Sunday.&nbsp;

However, 351 people succumbed to the deadly virus in the last 24 hours. Delhi recorded 240 deaths in the past 24 hours, much higher than the 161 reported a day earlier.

(With inputs from agencies)

India's daily COVID-19 cases stayed above the 200,000 mark for a sixth straight day, with cases increasing by 259,170 over the last 24 hours. With this, India's Covid tally has shot up to 15,321,089 cases.

India's daily COVID-19 cases stayed above the 200,000 mark for a sixth straight day, with cases increasing by 259,170 over the last 24 hours. With this, India's Covid tally has shot up to 15,321,089 cases. India, also reported the highest-ever single-day spike in Covid-related deaths with 1,761 fatalities. The death toll from the deadly infection stands at 180,550. The country now has over 2 million active cases. The Health Department stated that Maharashtra witnessed a dip in its daily Covid-19 count by recording 58,924 fresh infections; a day after reporting the highest number of 68,631 cases on Sunday. However, 351 people succumbed to the deadly virus in the last 24 hours. Delhi recorded 240 deaths in the past 24 hours, much higher than the 161 reported a day earlier. (With inputs from agencies)

Record 1,761 deaths in a day in India; Lockdown in Delhi

Amid a surge in deadly coronavirus cases in India, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has told its citizens to avoid travelling to India.

"Travellers should avoid all travel to India. Even fully vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting &amp; spreading variants and should avoid all travel to India. If you must travel to India, get fully vaccinated before travel," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an advisory.

"The Covid-19 pandemic continues to pose unprecedented risks to travellers. In light of those risks, the Department of State strongly recommends US citizens reconsider all travel abroad," it said.

"Because of the current situation in India even fully vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants and should avoid all travel to India.

"If you must travel to India, get fully vaccinated before travel. All travellers should wear a mask, stay 6 feet from others, avoid crowds, and wash their hands," it said.

The number of active coronavirus cases surpassed the 2 million&nbsp;mark in India as the country continued to record a mammoth surge in daily cases of the coronavirus disease.

The nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases mounted to 1,53,21,089 with a record single-day rise of 2,59,170 coronavirus infections, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

The State Department announced Monday that it would begin to update its travel advisories to more closely align with those from the CDC. The update comes as the world continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, which has now claimed more than 3 million lives worldwide.

It strongly recommended US citizens reconsider all travel abroad encompassing 80 per cent of the world.

The advisories, it said, also take into account logistical factors, including in-country testing availability and current travel restrictions for US citizens.

“This update will result in a significant increase in the number of countries at Level 4: Do Not Travel, to approximately 80 per cent of countries worldwide,” the State Department said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose unprecedented risks to travellers. In light of those risks, the Department of State strongly recommends US citizens reconsider all travel abroad,” it said.

According to the State Department, this does not imply a reassessment of the current health situation in a given country, but rather reflects an adjustment in the State Department's Travel Advisory system to rely more on CDC''s existing epidemiological assessments.

On Monday, Britain added India to its COVID-19 travel "red list", which effectively bans all travel from the country and makes a 10-day hotel quarantine compulsory for UK residents arriving back to the country.

Earlier this month, New Zealand also restricted travellers from India due to a spike in infections.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Amid a surge in deadly coronavirus cases in India, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has told its citizens to avoid travelling to India.

Amid a surge in deadly coronavirus cases in India, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has told its citizens to avoid travelling to India. "Travellers should avoid all travel to India. Even fully vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting & spreading variants and should avoid all travel to India. If you must travel to India, get fully vaccinated before travel," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an advisory. "The Covid-19 pandemic continues to pose unprecedented risks to travellers. In light of those risks, the Department of State strongly recommends US citizens reconsider all travel abroad," it said. "Because of the current situation in India even fully vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants and should avoid all travel to India. "If you must travel to India, get fully vaccinated before travel. All travellers should wear a mask, stay 6 feet from others, avoid crowds, and wash their hands," it said. The number of active coronavirus cases surpassed the 2 million mark in India as the country continued to record a mammoth surge in daily cases of the coronavirus disease. The nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases mounted to 1,53,21,089 with a record single-day rise of 2,59,170 coronavirus infections, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday. The State Department announced Monday that it would begin to update its travel advisories to more closely align with those from the CDC. The update comes as the world continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, which has now claimed more than 3 million lives worldwide. It strongly recommended US citizens reconsider all travel abroad encompassing 80 per cent of the world. The advisories, it said, also take into account logistical factors, including in-country testing availability and current travel restrictions for US citizens. “This update will result in a significant increase in the number of countries at Level 4: Do Not Travel, to approximately 80 per cent of countries worldwide,” the State Department said. “The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose unprecedented risks to travellers. In light of those risks, the Department of State strongly recommends US citizens reconsider all travel abroad,” it said. According to the State Department, this does not imply a reassessment of the current health situation in a given country, but rather reflects an adjustment in the State Department's Travel Advisory system to rely more on CDC''s existing epidemiological assessments. On Monday, Britain added India to its COVID-19 travel "red list", which effectively bans all travel from the country and makes a 10-day hotel quarantine compulsory for UK residents arriving back to the country. Earlier this month, New Zealand also restricted travellers from India due to a spike in infections. (With inputs from agencies)

Covid-19: US advises its citizens to avoid travelling to India

India will waive its 10% customs duty on imported COVID-19 vaccines, a senior government official told Reuters on Monday, as it tries to boost supplies to counter a dramatic surge in coronavirus cases.

Imports of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine are due to arrive soon and the government has also urged Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson to sell their products to India.

The official, who declined to be named, also said the government was considering allowing private entities to import approved vaccines for sale on the open market without government intervention. They could also be given the freedom to set pricing, he added.

The Indian government currently regulates the sale and purchase of all COVID-19 shots in the country.

A finance ministry spokesman did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment outside business hours.

Other South Asian countries, including Nepal and Pakistan, as well as Latin American nations such as Argentina and Brazil levy vaccine import tariffs ranging between 10% and 20%.

New COVID-19 infections and deaths in India have jumped by record numbers for days, with hospitals running short of beds, oxygen and key medicines. Total deaths have swelled to nearly 179,000 and cases have climbed above 15 million, the world's second-highest tally behind the United States.

The government has now decided to open vaccinations for all adults from May 1.

India will waive its 10% customs duty on imported COVID-19 vaccines, a senior government official told Reuters on Monday, as it tries to boost supplies to counter a dramatic surge in coronavirus cases.

India will waive its 10% customs duty on imported COVID-19 vaccines, a senior government official told Reuters on Monday, as it tries to boost supplies to counter a dramatic surge in coronavirus cases. Imports of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine are due to arrive soon and the government has also urged Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson to sell their products to India. The official, who declined to be named, also said the government was considering allowing private entities to import approved vaccines for sale on the open market without government intervention. They could also be given the freedom to set pricing, he added. The Indian government currently regulates the sale and purchase of all COVID-19 shots in the country. A finance ministry spokesman did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment outside business hours. Other South Asian countries, including Nepal and Pakistan, as well as Latin American nations such as Argentina and Brazil levy vaccine import tariffs ranging between 10% and 20%. New COVID-19 infections and deaths in India have jumped by record numbers for days, with hospitals running short of beds, oxygen and key medicines. Total deaths have swelled to nearly 179,000 and cases have climbed above 15 million, the world's second-highest tally behind the United States. The government has now decided to open vaccinations for all adults from May 1.

India to waive import duty on Covid-19 vaccines: Report

India registered 2,73,810 fresh cases of COVID-19 and 1,619 fatalities in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day spike in terms of cases and deaths since the&nbsp;pandemic began, according to the data updated by the Union Health Ministry on Monday.

The fresh addition took the total tally to 1,50,61,919 while the death toll soared to 1,78,769.

As many as 2,73,810 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in India in the last 24 hours.

The active number of cases in the country stands at 19,29,329.

In the last 24 hours, 1,44,178 people recovered from the disease. With this, the total recoveries reached 1,29,53,821.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 13,56,133 samples were tested on Monday. And, as many as 26,78,94,549 samples have been tested across the country till April 18.

(With inputs from agencies)

India registered 2,73,810 fresh cases of COVID-19 and 1,619 fatalities in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day spike in terms of cases and deaths since the pandemic began, according to the data updated by the Union Health Ministry on Monday.

India registered 2,73,810 fresh cases of COVID-19 and 1,619 fatalities in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day spike in terms of cases and deaths since the pandemic began, according to the data updated by the Union Health Ministry on Monday. The fresh addition took the total tally to 1,50,61,919 while the death toll soared to 1,78,769. As many as 2,73,810 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in India in the last 24 hours. The active number of cases in the country stands at 19,29,329. In the last 24 hours, 1,44,178 people recovered from the disease. With this, the total recoveries reached 1,29,53,821. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 13,56,133 samples were tested on Monday. And, as many as 26,78,94,549 samples have been tested across the country till April 18. (With inputs from agencies)

Covid-19: India reports record 2,73,810 cases, highest ever deaths in a day