India reported 13,193 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours on Friday, as the total number of cases went up to 1,09,63,394, according to the health ministry data. The toll rose to 1,56,111, with 97 new deaths, while the number of active cases in the country stood at 1,39,542.

A total of 1,01,88,007 doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been administered so far on health workers and frontline workers, according to the government data. On Thursday, the health ministry also said that India currently stood third among all countries, in highest cumulative vaccination numbers, after the United States and the United Kingdom.

The government is also preparing a list of comorbidities to identify individuals who will be included in the priority group for the next phase of vaccination, the Hindustan Times reported.

“The guidelines to identify individuals with comorbidities have already been prepared,” NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul said on Thursday. “It will be unveiled very soon. Apart from the expert group, we have discussed with state governments and we are in comfort that this is implementable.”

The health ministry added that a total of 32 people have died after being inoculated with the vaccine in the country as of Thursday, comprising 0.0003% of the total vaccinations. Of the 32, thirteen persons died in the hospital while 19 deaths are recorded outside the hospital, it added.

Maharashtra

Meanwhile, amid a sharp rise in daily cases in Maharashtra, Mumbai’s civic body, the Brihanmumbai Mumbai Corporation on Thursday issued updated coronavirus-related guidelines. The state reported 5,427 new cases on Friday, the first instance of over 5,000 single-day infections in 75 days, according to PTI.

The state’s Health Minister Rajesh Tope, Maharashtra Nationalist Congress Party chief Jayant Patil, NCP leader Eknath Khadse, Minister of State Bacchu Kadu, and Food and Drug Administration Minister Rajendra Shingne have tested positive for the virus.

The Maharashtra Police registered a case against around 500 people for allegedly violating the coronavirus-related norms by gathering for birthday celebration at Dombivli area of Thane district, PTI reported. No arrest had been made as of Friday.

The first information report was registered under Indian Penal Code sections 269 and 270 (negligent and malignant act likely to spread infection of diseases), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant). The accused were also booked under sections of the Disaster Management Control Rules against the crowd.

Global updates

  • Globally, the total number of cases stood at 11,02,89,988, while as many as 24,41,112 people have died because of the infection, according to Johns Hopkins University and Medicine.
  • The Chinese government denied it obstructed Taiwan’s coronavirus vaccine purchase from BioNTech after the island’s health minister revealed that its deal with the German drugmaker fell through at the last minute due to possible “political pressure,” reported CNN. Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said it was “purely fabrication” that Beijing had intervened in BioNTech’s vaccine sale to Taiwan.
  • At least 1,549 cases of coronavirus strains first spotted in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil have been reported in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The country has reported over 2.7 crore cases and 24.41 lakh deaths.