Coronavirus LIVE Updates: US President Joe Biden on Monday conveyed solidarity with India in its fight against COVID-19 and asserted that his country was determined to support its efforts by quickly deploying resources such as therapeutics, ventilators and identifying sources of raw materials to be made available for the manufacture of Covishield vaccine, according to a statement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday night spoke to US President Joe Biden over the evolving COVID situation in both countries The Punjab government on Monday ordered a weekend lockdown and extended the night curfew by two hours in a bid to tackle the surge in coronavirus cases. Calling it a “milestone” on Twitter, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s office also said that vaccination of 1.5 crore citizens will be achieved soon. The Central government on Monday asked the Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech to lower prices of their COVID-19 vaccines amid criticism from various states who objected to profiteering during such a major crisis, reports news agency PTI. The Kerala government on Monday imposed restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19. Cinema halls, malls, gyms, clubs, sports complexes, swimming pools, entertainment parks and bars will remain shut, until further orders. Flagging the ‘unfair’ differential price mechanism for COVID-19 vaccines to be procured by the Centre and the state governments, Tamil Nadu said on Monday this places a higher financial burden on states and urged the Centre to supply the doses. AIIMS director Randeep Guleria said that that there is an urgent need to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and make optimal use of hospital resources. During a press briefing on the COVID-19 situation, Additional Secretary in the MHA says there is enough oxygen supply in the country but transportation is a challenge. During a press briefing, the health ministry said eight states —Maharashtra, UP, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu — have over one lakh active cases. The Madras High Court on Monday came down hard on the Election Commission and called it the “the most irresponsible institution” for the alleged spread of the second wave of Covid-19 in the country. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa announced that the entire state will go under a full lockdown for two weeks starting from 9 pm on 27 April, said reports. The PGIMS hospital in Rohtak has stopped admission of new COVID-19 patients till further orders, saying it is faced with a “shortage” of medical oxygen. During a hearing on a plea on the coronavirus situation and issue of oxygen supply in the National Capital, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that the procurement of oxygen has to be at the national level only, said reports. The Delhi government has decided that those above 18 years of age will be given free COVID-19 vaccine, announced Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. In the past 24 hours, Maharashtra has reported 66,191 cases, Uttar Pradesh has recorded, 35,311 cases,and Delhi has recorded 22,933 new cases. According to official figures, the country has reported 3,52,991 COVID-19 cases and 2,812 deaths in the past 24 hours. India logged a record 3,49,691 new coronavirus infections in a day taking its total tally of COVID-19 cases to 1,69,60,172, while active cases crossed the 26-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. The death toll increased to 1,92,311 with a record 2,767 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. Registering a steady increase, the active cases have increased to 26,82,751 comprising 15.82 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has further dropped to 83.05 per cent. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,40,85,110, while the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.13 per cent, the data stated. India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of 1.50 crore on April 19. According to the ICMR, 27,79,18,810 samples have been tested up to April 25 with 17,19,588 samples being tested on Saturday. The 2,767 new fatalities include 676 from Maharashtra, 357 from Delhi, 222 from Uttar Pradesh, 218 from Chhattisgarh, 208 from Karnataka, 152 from Gujarat and 110 from Jharkhand and 104 from Madhya Pradesh. A total of 1,92,311 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 63,928 from Maharashtra, 14,283 from Karnataka, 13,475 from Tamil Nadu, 13,898 from Delhi, 10,959 from Uttar Pradesh, 10,884 from West Bengal, 8,356 from Punjab and 7,616 from Andhra Pradesh. The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities. “Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation. With inputs from PTI
Coronavirus Updates: Joe Biden expresses solidarity with India, says determined to support fight against COVID
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Biden made the remarks in a telephonic conversation with Narendra Modi, during which the two leaders discussed India’s ongoing efforts to contain the second wave of COVID-19
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Coronavirus LATEST Updates
India’s COVID-19 situation ‘beyond heartbreaking’, says WHO chief
The World Health Organization chief voiced alarm Monday at India’s record-breaking wave of Covid-19 cases and deaths, saying the organisation was rushing to help address the crisis.
“The situation in India is beyond heartbreaking,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters.
His comments came as India battles a catastrophic coronavirus wave that has overwhelmed hospitals and crematoriums working at full capacity.
-AFP
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Maharashtra reports 48,700 new Covid-19 cases
The daily number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra dropped to 48,700 on Monday, taking the count of infections to 43,43,727 while 524 deaths pushed the toll to 65,284, the state health department said.
Maharashtra had reported the lowest number of infections in this month so far on April 1 (43,183 cases). On April 2, the state had added 47,827 infections.
With 2,22,475 new tests on Monday, the number of samples tested so far in Maharashtra rose to 2,59,72 018, the department said.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
US determined to support India in COVID fight: Biden tells Modi
US President Joe Biden on Monday conveyed solidarity with India in its fight against COVID-19 and asserted that his country was determined to support its efforts by quickly deploying resources such as therapeutics, ventilators and identifying sources of raw materials to be made available for the manufacture of Covishield vaccine, according to a statement.
Biden expressed the support of the US to India in a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which the two leaders discussed the pandemic situation in their countries, including India’s ongoing efforts to contain a second wave of COVID-19 through expedited vaccination efforts, and ensuring supply of critical medicines, therapeutics and medical equipment.
Modi also informed Biden about India’s initiative at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for a relaxation in the norms of the Agreement on TRIPS to ensure quick and affordable access to vaccines and medicines for developing countries, the statement said.
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US will share AstraZeneca vaccines with world
The US will begin sharing its entire pipeline of vaccines from AstraZeneca once the COVID-19 vaccine clear federal safety reviews, the White House told The Associated Press on Monday, with as many as 60 million doses expected to be available for export in the coming months.
The move greatly expands on the Biden administration’s action last month to share about 4 million doses of the vaccine with Mexico and Canada. The AstraZeneca vaccine is widely in use around the world but not yet authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration.
The move comes as the White House is increasingly assured about the supply of the three vaccines being administered in the US, particularly following the restart of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot over the weekend.
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PM dials Joe Biden, thanks US for its support
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday night spoke to US President Joe Biden over the evolving COVID situation in both countries. Modi also thanked Biden for providing help to India, by exported required raw material for vaccine manufacturing to Serum Institute of India
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Noida records 15 COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours
Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar Monday recorded its highest single-day spike in COVID-linked deaths, with official data showing 15 people succumbed to the viral disease in 24 hours.
The district also recorded 655 new infections that pushed its overall tally of cases to 36,645, while the active caseload reached 6,300, according to the figures released by the UP Health Department for a 24-hour period.
On the brighter side, 406 patients got discharged during the period with the overall recoveries reaching 30,176 in the district, the fifth highest in the state, it showed.
Gautam Buddh Nagar now has a death toll of 169 with a mortality rate of 0.46 per cent. The recovery rate of patients dropped marginally to 82.34 per cent from 82.69 per cent the previous day, the numbers showed.
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Bihar reports 11,801 new cases, 67 deaths today
Total 11,801 more COVID cases were reported in Bihar Monday escalating the virus caseload to 4,15,397, with capital Patna being worst-hit in the state, health department bulletin said. The state saw 67 fresh casualties, taking the toll to 2222, it said.
Among the new cases, Patna’s share was a maximum of 2,720, while Saran had 568 infections, West Champaran (460), Saharsa (433) and Purnea (384).
Sheikhpura Superintendent of Police Kartikeya K Sharma tested positive and has self-isolated himself.
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Oxygen supply in Punjab is extremely critical, tweets Captain Amarinder Singh
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
West Bengal logs record 15,992 new COVID-19 cases, 68 more deaths
West Bengal on Monday registered 68 deaths due to COVID-19, the highest so far in a single day, pushing the toll to 11,009, the health department said. The state also reported record 15,992 fresh infections, which took the tally to 7,59,942, the department said in its bulletin.
Kolkata alone accounted for 26 deaths and 3,868 new cases, the bulletin said. The number of active cases has risen to 94,949.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Punjab govt orders weekend lockdown, extends night curfew
The Punjab government on Monday ordered a weekend lockdown and extended the night curfew by two hours in a bid to tackle the surge in coronavirus cases.
The government has also ordered the closure of shops by 5 pm.
“Due to continuous & rapid rise of #Covid19 cases in Punjab, Cabinet today has decided to impose daily lockdown from 6 PM to 5 AM and weekend lockdown from Friday 6 PM to Monday 5 AM. Urge you all to stay at home & step out only if absolutely necessary. Seek your full cooperation, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh in a tweet said.
“All shops will remain open till 5 pm from Monday till Friday,” said Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar addressing mediapersons after a cabinet meeting here.
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US to work around the clock to help India against COVID-19 surge: US Ambassador to UN
The US will work around the clock to help India as it battles a devastating surge in COVID-19 cases and Washington is doing everything it can to help, including deploying raw materials for vaccines, ventilators, oxygen generation supplies, and financial support for vaccine expansion, the US Ambassador to the UN said on Monday.
“I want to take a moment to talk about the heartbreaking situation in India. The most recent spike of COVID-19 cases there has been devastating. The United States stands in solidarity with the people of India, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said during a closed virtual dialogue hosted by the United States, Argentina, Japan, Norway, and South Africa on Pandemic Preparedness and Response.”
She said the US is doing everything it can to help, including deploying raw materials for vaccines, as well as therapeutics, rapid diagnostic kits, ventilators, oxygen generation supplies, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and USAID public health teams, and financial support for vaccine expansion.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Delhi HC says not in agreement with Centre on availability of enough oxygen
The Delhi High Court Monday said it was not in agreement with the Centre that there is enough oxygen available to treat seriously ill COVID-19 patients in the national capital.
“Today there is a shortage (of oxygen). The Solicitor General says there is no shortage but we will not accept it because we have ourselves seen there is a shortage of oxygen,” said a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli.
Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said his submission was that there is enough oxygen if distributed properly and the issue was of transportation and not the supply.
“I have not said Delhi has enough oxygen. I am saying right now we have enough oxygen if distributed properly,” he said. During the hearing, petitioner advocate Rakesh Malhotra made the submission that there was a shortage of RT-PCR kits.
-PTI
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Maharashtra vaccinates over 5 lakh citizens today, tweets CMO
Calling it a “milestone” on Twitter, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s office also said that vaccination of 1.5 crore citizens will be achieved soon. The government said the state has “achieved a milestone in its COVID vaccination drive today”
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Centre asks SII, Bharat Biotech to reduce rates for state, private procurement, says report
As per CNBC-TV18, the government has asked the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech to reconsider and reduce their vaccine prices for state and private procurement.
The Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech has fixed the price of its COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, at Rs 600 per dose for state governments and at Rs 1,200 per dose for private hospitals.
The Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine maker in terms of volume, has announced a price of Rs 400 per dose for its COVID-19 vaccine, ‘Covishield’, for state governments and Rs 600 per dose for private hospitals.
Obstructing oxygen tankers amounts to endangering human lives, says Delhi HC
Obstructing cryogenic tankers carrying medical oxygen for COVID-19 patients will tantamount to endangering human lives, the Delhi High Court said on Monday, pointing out that the Rajasthan government must honour the orders not to cause any hindrance in transportation of the gas to other states. Acting tough on black marketing in oxygen cylinders, reportedly being sold at Rs 1 lakh per unit here, the high court asked the Delhi government to take action against those indulging in it, saying distribution of gas cylinders is “your baby” and the state should work out an oxygen distribution plan.
PTI
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Centre exempts three sectors from ban non-medical use of liquid oxygen
A day after putting a ban on the use of liquid oxygen for non-medical purposes, the government on Monday allowed three sectors —ampules and vials, pharmaceutical and defence forces — to use the commodity. Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla had on Sunday imposed a ban on the use of liquid oxygen for non-medical purposes, amid a scarcity of medical oxygen in many parts of the country, particularly in Delhi, that have been hit by a fresh wave of the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter to states and Union Territories on Monday, Bhalla said that three sectors — ampules and vials; pharmaceutical and defence forces — have now been exempted from the ban order.
PTI
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Himachal Pradesh to provide oxygen supply to Delhi
The Himachal Pradesh government will arrange oxygen supply to Delhi, which is facing acute shortage of the life-saving gas for COVID-19 patients, from the hill state, an official spokesperson said on Monday. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, on the request of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has agreed to arrange emergency supply of oxygen to Delhi amid the COVID-19 crisis, he added.
In a letter written to his Delhi counterpart, Thakur said that the Himachal Pradesh government was “highly concerned” about the situation emerging in the national capital and would be more than happy to extend all possible help to the Delhi government. Thakur said that officers of the Delhi government may contact additional director of industries for arranging the supply of oxygen from the state. Kejriwal, in a tweet, also thanked the chief minister for his help.
PTI
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Agra hospital accuses tehsildar of obstructing oxygen supply
A private hospital in Agra on Monday asked permission from the authorities to shut its COVID facility, accusing a tehsildar of obstructing the supply of oxygen cylinders. Chauhan Hospital and Eye Care in a letter to the CMO alleged that Tehsildar Preeti Jain seized 15 of the 30 oxygen-filled cylinders from their facility and accused her of causing obstruction in its supply every day.
PTI
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Consider complete lockdown on 1 and 2 May, Madras HC tells Puducherry and TN
The Madras High Court on Monday directed the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry governments to consider declaring complete lockdown for two days on 1 and 2 May 1, when counting of votes polled in the 6 April Assembly elections will be taken up. The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy gave the suggestion while passing further interim orders on an issue relating to alleged shortage of Remdesivir drug, ventilators and beds and diversion of oxygen cylinders to other states. Based on newspaper reports, the judges took up the issue by themselves.
PTI
Coronavirus LATEST Updates
Centre asks SII, Bharat Biotech to lower price of COVID-19 vaccines: Report
The Central government on Monday asked the Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech to lower prices of their COVID-19 vaccines amid criticism from various states who objected to profiteering during such a major crisis. The issue of vaccine pricing was discussed at a meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba. Now the two companies are expected to come up with revised pricing for their vaccines.
The Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech has fixed the price of its COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, at Rs 600 per dose for state governments and at Rs 1,200 per dose for private hospitals. The Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine maker in terms of volume, has announced a price of Rs 400 per dose for its COVID-19 vaccine, ‘Covishield’, for state governments and Rs 600 per dose for private hospitals. Both vaccines are available to the central government at a rate of Rs 150 per dose.
PTI