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Coronavirus Latest News Updates: With gradual ingress of COVID-19 infection in rural and peri urban areas, the Centre on Sunday urged states to ensure community-based and primary health centre services to manage the situation while stressing on sensitisation of ground workers on containment, surveillance and use of RAT for screening, and tele-consultation. Oral anti-coronavirus drug 2-DG, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, will be launched on Monday, with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh distributing nearly 10,000 doses to hospitals in Delhi, The railways have delivered more than 9,440 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) in nearly 590 tankers to various states across the country since April 19, the national transporter said on Sunday. Maharashtra’s toll rose to 81,486 while the number of fresh cases remained below 40,000 for the third consecutive day The Centre directed Uttar Pradesh and Bihar on Sunday to prevent dumping of dead bodies in the Ganga and its tributaries, and focus on their safe disposal and a dignified cremation after corpses were seen floating in these rivers following a spurt in the number of coronavirus cases. Delhi metro services to remain suspended until further notice as the Covid-19 lockdown has been extended in the capital city, the DMRC said. At least 38 AMU teachers, including 21 serving ones, had died of COVID or COVID-like symptoms in the last month, triggering doubts if any new deadly strain of the virus has been in circulation on the AMU campus . Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh orders extension of all existing restrictions up to May 31, with directions for strict enforcement of all the curbs. Bharat Biotech on Sunday said its COVID-19 vaccine ‘Covaxin’ has been found to be effective against coronavirus strains found in India and the UK. Challenging the arrests of 25 persons by Delhi police for posters that surfaced across the city questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to donate vaccines to neighbouring countries, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted the poster on his Twitter account daring the police to arrest him. More than 1.84 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with states and UTs, while nearly 51 lakh doses are in the pipeline and will be received by them within the next three days, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday. Anti-viral drug Remdesivir would be made available directly to private hospitals to avoid overcrowding in places designated for its prescription based sale by state authorities to the kin of COVID-19 patients, the Tamil Nadu government said. As rural areas see a rise in COVID-19 cases, the Centre on Sunday issued new guidelines for containment of the virus advising that peri-urban and rural areas plan a minimum 30-bedded COVID Care Centre for asymptomatic cases with comorbidities or mild cases where home isolation is not feasible. Provision of Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits should be made at all public health facilities including Sub-centres or Health and Wellness Centres and Primary Health Centres, the Union Health Ministry said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry on the COVID-19 situation in the states and the Union Territory, government sources told news agency PTI. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced that lockdown in Delhi is extended by another week and will continue till 5 am on 24 May**.** Over 18.21 crore (18,21,99,668) vaccine doses have been administered till 8 pm on Saturday, said the Centre. Active coronavirus cases in India declined by 55,344, the highest single-day drop, says reports. Active coronavirus cases now stand at 36,18,458 and comprise 14.66 percent of the total cases. India recorded 3.11 lakh fresh cases of coronavirus in a day taking the total tally of COVID-19 infections to 2,46,84,077, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. A total of 3,11,170 new cases were reported in a day, while the toll climbed to 2,70,284 with 4,077 daily fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. The second batch of COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V arrived in Hyderabad, said reports. The Centre has asked states and union territories to refrain from approving additional categories as frontline workers for vaccination, and recommended doing so using only vaccines procured directly by them. The missive from Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan came after states like Odisha included railway staff, forest guards, oxygen plant employees and other categories as front line workers (FLW). “It has been learnt that some states/UTs are approving additional categories of persons as FLWs belonging to different departments (like govt departments of banking, railways, and transport etc). “In this regard, states/UTS are advised to please note that the FLWs categories and their definition has been very clearly communicated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and no change in the categories of FLWS and their definition has been made by the Government of India.” “Thus, it is advised that states/UTs should adhere to these categories as defined by MoHFW based on the recommendations of the NEGVAC,” the letter from Bhushan to chief secretaries of states and Union Territories, dated 15 May, said. Bhushan said the COVID-19 vaccination drive has entered Phase-3 from 1 May this year in which all beneficiaries aged 18 years and above can be included for vaccination as per state’s decision. He said this phase of vaccination drive is being guided by liberalised pricing and accelerated national COVID-19 vaccination strategy which has been explained to the states and Union Territories during multiple meetings held in the last fortnight. He said according to the new strategy, Health Care Workers (HCWS), FLWs and people above 45 years are being vaccinated using vaccine supplies made free of cost to states and Union Territories by the Government of India. He said people aged above 18 years are to be vaccinated using vaccines procured directly by states, Union Territories and private hospitals. “However, states may like to make provisions for other categories of FLWs beyond the categories communicated by MoHFW as FLWs from the vaccines directly procured by state governments. A suitable provision is also being made in Co-WIN for on-site registration and vaccination of such facilitated cohorts of beneficiaries that the states may identify to be benefitted exclusively out of the vaccine doses directly procured by the States,” he said. The railway unions have demanded that its staffers, who have been working through the coronavirus crisis, be treated as frontline workers and even Railway minister Piyush Goyal, sources said, had assured them of help. “If state police, central police organisations, armed forces, Home Guards, prison staff are frontline workers, why aren’t our stationmasters, guards, and running staff considered the same? It’s not fair,” an officer said.
Coronavirus Latest News Updates: COVID spreading to villages, sensitise ground workers on containment, Centre tells states
Coronavirus Latest News Updates: The states were also urged to train the ground-level staff on rapid antigen test (RAT), which is the preferred test for screening of the infected cases to enable timely isolation and prompt treatment, said the health ministry
 "Coronavirus Latest News Updates: COVID spreading to villages, sensitise ground workers on containment, Centre tells states")
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Tamil Nadu sees over 33,000 new COVID-19 cases for 2nd day in a row
Tamil Nadu reported over 33,000 new COVID-19 cases and over 300 deaths for the second consecutive day on Sunday, the Health Department said. The total number of fresh cases stands at 33,181 and deaths at 311, the department said.
The new cases include nine returnees from various destinations, pushing the caseload to 15,98,216 while the deaths today took the toll to 17,670 to date, it said. According to a medical bulletin, 21,317 people were discharged today, taking the tally to 13,61,204 leaving 2,19,342 active infections.
-PTI
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
COVID spreading to villages, sensitise ground workers on containment: Centre to states
With gradual ingress of COVID-19 infection in rural and peri-urban areas, the Centre on Sunday urged states to ensure community-based and primary health centre services to manage the situation while stressing on sensitisation of ground workers on containment, surveillance and use of RAT for screening, and tele-consultation.
The states were also urged to train the ground-level staff on rapid antigen test (RAT), which is the preferred test for screening of the infected cases to enable timely isolation and prompt treatment, the Union Health Ministry said.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan along with Member (Health) of NITI Aayog V K Paul chaired a high-level video conference meeting with all the states and union territories.
The focus of the meet was on COVID-19 containment and management in peri-urban, rural and tribal areas along with the effective clinical management of COVID-19, including the black Mucormycosis fungi which is being recorded in a growing number of states, the ministry said.
-PTI
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
India to have 200 crore vaccine doses by December: Scindia
BJP’s Rajya Sabha member Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday said vaccination was the only way to tackle coronavirus, and 200 crore vaccine doses, enough for all, would be made available in India by December.
He said that even if the current situation was very challenging, the virus could be eliminated if everyone came together to give a united fight against it.
Speaking to reporters, Scindia said, “Vaccination is the only way to deal with coronavirus. The country will have 200 crore vaccines by December, which will be sufficient for all. The Centre and states are constantly working in this direction.”
Along with the urban areas, vaccination will also start in rural parts shortly, he added.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Senior virologist quits as Chief Advisor to Centre’s Covid genome surveillance project
According to New Indian Express, senior virologist Shahid Jameel on Sunday resigned as the chair of the scientific advisory group of Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), a forum set up by the union government in December last year. The consortium had been set up for laboratory and epidemiological surveillance of circulating strains of the COVID in India.
“I am not obliged to give a reason,” he said in a text message to Reuters, adding that he quit on Friday.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Telangana COVID-19 caseload surges past 5.28 lakh
The total count of coronavirus cases in Telangana crossed 5.28 lakh on Sunday as the state added 3,816 anew while the toll stood at 2955 with 27 more casualties.
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 668, followed by Rangareddy 326 and Medchal Malkajgiri 293, a government bulletin said.
The COVID aggregate in the state stood at 5,28,823 while the total recoveries were 4,74,899 after 5892being cured. Cumulatively, over 1.40 crore samples have been tested. The samples tested per million population was over 3.77 lakh, it said.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Oral drug 2-DG, developed by DRDO, to be launched tomorrow in Delhi
Oral anti-coronavirus drug 2-DG, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, will be launched on Monday, with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh distributing nearly 10,000 doses to hospitals in Delhi, reports NDTV.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Tripura announces curfew in Agartala municipal areas from 17 to 26 May
The Tripura government on Sunday, announced a nine-day “corona curfew from May 17 within the jurisdiction of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) area in view of the COVID-19 surge, state Law minister Ratan Lal Nath said.
Nath, who is also the Cabinet spokesperson said, the decision was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma on Saturday.
“All the healthcare experts and ministers who had attended the meeting on Saturday unanimously resolved that strict COVID-19 protocol should be enforced to contain the surge,” he said. West Tripura is the worst-hit district in the state, the minister said.
-PTI
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
133 inmates of district prison test COVID-19 positive in Maharashtra
A total of 133 prisoners have tested coronavirus positive in Osmanabad district jail of Maharashtra in two days, authorities said on Sunday. As per the data released by the district civil hospital, 35 inmates were found positive for the infection on Saturday, while 98 others were found infected on Sunday.
Nine of the infected inmates are women, the data revealed. The coronavirus case tally in Osmanabad district has gone up to 48,956 with the addition of 492 cases on Sunday, while 1,114 persons have died due to the infection till now. A total of 42,155 patients have recovered in the district so far.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Plea in HC for vaccine supply to Delhi on priority basis
A plea in the Delhi High Court has sought directions to the Centre to ensure that COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech supply the jabs to the national capital on a priority basis, reports PTI.
The application by a lawyer claims that the vaccination drive in Delhi is in a “sorry state” due to shortage of jabs.
Nazia Parveen, in her plea, contends that the “biggest hurdle” to overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic is delay in vaccination.
The application, filed through advocate Sanjeev Sagar, has been moved in her main petition which seeks a direction to the Centre to waive clinical trials of foreign vaccines so that they are available for use without any delay and to give priority in vaccination to those who have already taken the first dose.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Over 9,440 MT of liquid medical oxygen delivered on Oxygen Express trains
The railways have delivered more than 9,440 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) in nearly 590 tankers to various states across the country since April 19, the national transporter said on Sunday. Around 150 Oxygen Express trains have completed their journey so far and brought relief to various states, it added.
Twelve Oxygen Express trains were on the run with more than 970 tonnes of LMO in 55 tankers, it said.
The southern states of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu got a big boost in the supply of the life-saving gas with several Oxygen Express trains delivering their loads. Incidentally, the NCR region crossed the delivery of more than 5,000 tonnes of oxygen for further distribution.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
AAP leaders behind posters critical of PM Modi and vaccination drive: Delhi Police
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Gautam was behind the posters critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the COVID-19 vaccination drive that surfaced in the Mangolpuri area, the Delhi Police claimed on Sunday, a day after it arrested 25 people for allegedly pasting them on walls across the city amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown. Gautam is absconding, the police tweeted.
“Police while patrolling to enforce lockdown announced by DDMA, created by GNCTD, noticed walls in several areas being defaced by pasting posters. Accused persons on questioning told an AAP member & President of Ward 47, Arvind Gautam was behind it in Mangolpuri. He is absconding,” tweeted the Delhi Police, which comes under the Union Home Ministry.
The police alleged that AAP leaders were involved in pasting the posters in other parts of the national capital as well.
-PTI
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Maharashtra sees 974 deaths, 34,389 new cases
Maharashtra on Sunday reported 974 deaths due to COVID-19, taking the toll to 81,486 while the number of fresh cases at 34,389 remained below 40,000 for the third consecutive day. The overall caseload in Maharashtra has reached 53,78,452, the state health department said.
Of the 974 fatalities, 415 deaths had occurred in the last 48 hours, it added. A total of 59,318 patients were discharged during the day, raising the number of recoveries so far in Maharashtra to 48,26,371 which has left the state with 4,68,109 active cases while the recovery rate stood at 89.74 per cent, it said.
With 2,64,587 new tests, the total number of samples tested so far in Maharashtra has risen to 3,11,03,991, the department said in a release. Currently,34 91,981 people are in home quarantine and 28,398 are in institutional quarantine in Maharashtra.
Mumbai city reported 1,535 new cases and 60 deaths.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
UP gearing up to tackle Covid’s possible 3rd wave, black fungus infection: CM
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said the state government is alive to the possibility of a third wave of Covid-19 and the spread of black fungus infection among cured patients and is readying itself to tackle them.
He said the state government is focusing on ensuring awareness and treatment of the black fungus infection, which has emerged as a challenge for the people who have recovered from Covid-19.
Apprehensions have been expressed about a possible third wave of the coronavirus in the state, Adityanath said, adding the government is already preparing an action plan to effectively check the third wave .
The chief minister made these remarks while addressing reporters during his visit to Noida to review the Covid-19 situation.
-PTI
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Bengal reports record 147 new COVID deaths, 19,117 fresh cases
West Bengal on Sunday registered 147 fatalities due to COVID-19, the highest so far on a single day, pushing the overall death toll to 13,284, a health department bulletin said. The state reported 19,117 fresh cases of infection, which took the overall tally to 11,33,430.
The number of active cases at present is 1,31,805, the bulletin said. Altogether 19,113 people were also cured of the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries in the state to 9,88,341.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Triple lockdown in 4 Kerala districts kicks in from 16 May midnight
Triple lockdown will come into effect in four Kerala districts reporting the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the state, from Sunday midnight and remain in force till 23 May.
The boundaries of the Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram districts will be sealed as part of the administration’s bid to arrest the massive spread of coronavirus, while the current lockdown will continue in the other 10 districts of the state.
According to the guidelines issued by the Thiruvananthapuram district administration, shops dealing with food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat and fish, animal fodder, poultry and cattle feed, bakeries will be open on alternate days starting from Monday onwards.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury urges PM to announce cash transfer of Rs 6,000 per month to needy
Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday to announce direct cash transfer of Rs 6,000 per month to the poor and needy to cope with the lockdown.
In a letter to the prime minister, Chowdhury highlighted the hardship and suffering being faced by the poor, daily wagers and the marginalised sections of the society due to the lockdown imposed in various states.
“The central government should resort to direct cash transfer of Rs 6,000 per month in the bank accounts of all the eligible poor people of the states under lockdown, including the state of West Bengal.
“This will not only mitigate the sufferings of the millions of poor but is good economics as well because it will have a multiplier effect on the economy,” he said.
The Congress leader said in view of the ongoing pandemic and the lockdowns, such people have been rendered unemployed, resulting in them not being able to provide for and feed their families.
Leader of Congress party in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury writes to PM Narendra Modi, urging to provide Rs 6000/month to the poor in the states under lockdown pic.twitter.com/hzkjRwsY1s
— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2021
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Already booked online appointments for 2nd Covishield dose to remain valid, says Centre
The Union health ministry on Sunday clarified that already booked online appointments for second dose of Covishield vaccine will remain valid and the same will not be cancelled on Co-WIN platform, reports PTI.
It, however, said requisite changes have now been done in the Co-WIN digital portal, as a result of which further online or on-site appointments will not be possible if the period after first dose date for a beneficiary is less than 84 days.
The Centre had on May 13 extended the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield vaccine to 12-16 weeks based on the recommendations by the COVID Working Group chaired by NK Arora.
The clarification comes amid reports suggesting that people who had pre-booked their appointment for the second dose in less than 84 days on CoWIN are being turned back from vaccination centres without getting the second dose of Covishield, reports Mint.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Goa adds 1,314 new COVID-19 cases, 3,793 recover; 43 die
A total of 3,793 COVID-19 patients recovered in Goa on Sunday against the detection of 1,314 fresh infections, while 43 patients died, a health official said. The overall caseload in Goa has reached 1,35,856, while the fatality count stands at 2,099, he said, adding the number of recoveries so far rose to 1,05,505, leaving the state with 28,252 active cases.
With 3,877 new tests, the total number of samples tested so far in Goa has gone up to 7,57,148, he added. Goa’s COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 1,35,856, new cases 1,314, death toll 2,099, discharged 1,05,505, active cases 28,252, samples tested till date 7,57,148.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Covaxin for those above 45 yrs to last only one day: Delhi govt
Delhi has only one day of Covaxin stock left for those aged above 45, healthcare and frontline workers, while Covishield doses for this category can last up to five days, AAP MLA Atishi said on Sunday. She said 1.18 lakh beneficiaries received the jabs on May 15. Around 10.50 lakh people have got both the doses since the inoculation drive began on January 16.
Delhi has so far received 44.94 lakh vaccine doses for this age group, of which 41.68 lakh have been administered, Atishi said.
“After Sunday evening, the city will have only one day of Covaxin stock and five days of Covishield doses left. We appeal to the central government to make more vaccines available for this category immediately,” she said. The capital has received 8.17 lakh doses for the 18-44 age group so far, of which 5.25 lakh have been used till Sunday morning.
“Since there are no Covaxin doses left for this category, all such vaccination centres have been shut. We have six days of Covishield stock left,” she said.
-PTI
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Centre orders UP, Bihar to prevent dumping of dead bodies in Ganga
The Centre directed Uttar Pradesh and Bihar on Sunday to prevent dumping of dead bodies in the Ganga and its tributaries, and focus on their safe disposal and a dignified cremation after corpses were seen floating in these rivers following a spurt in the number of coronavirus cases.
At a review meeting conducted on 15-16 May, the Centre said the dumping of dead bodies and partially burnt or decomposed corpses in the Ganga and its tributaries has recently been reported, which is “most undesirable and alarming”.
“Namami Gange directs states to prevent dumping of dead bodies in the Ganga and focus on their safe disposal and providing support for ensuring dignified cremation,” the Jal Shakti Ministry said.
The state pollution control boards were directed to monitor the water quality more frequently in consultations with the health departments.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was assigned the task of overall monitoring, providing guidance to the state pollution control boards and taking up advanced analysis in the matter.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Experts say prolonged poll campaign helped COVID cases jump in rural Bengal
Since the announcement of elections, nearly three months ago till Saturday, West Bengal’s riverine, largely rural hinterland has seen a 48-fold jump in active COVID-19 cases, with medical experts attributing it to the unprotected poll rallies. Most medical professionals blame the mass gatherings at election rallies for the huge surge in the disease, reports PTI.
On February 26, when the Election Commission announced the poll dates, West Bengal’s number of active Covid cases was just 3,343, while it stood at 1.32 lakh on Saturday, a near 40-fold increase.
However, the spread in districts, other than Kolkata, is far more. From a mere 2,183 active cases on February 26, the number of active cases on May 15 has risen to 1.06 lakh, a worrying 48-fold increase.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Explore possibility of procuring Sputnik V COVID vaccine: Punjab CM to officials
Amid a severe vaccine shortage, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday directed authorities to explore the possibility of procuring Sputnik V COVID vaccine for inoculating people in the 18-44 age group.
Addressing a virtual COVID review meeting, the chief minister said one lakh doses of Covishield, received initially for the 18-44 years category, had almost been completely utilized.
He asked Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan to look into Sputnik V as an alternative vaccine for this age group, in which currently the state government is inoculating families of healthcare workers, co-morbid persons and construction labour, according to a government statement here.
In the next stage, other categories, especially teachers, should be vaccinated to enable reopening of the schools at the earliest, he said.
-PTI
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Kerala sees slight decline in daily coronavirus cases
A week after the implementation of a complete lockdown, the COVID-19 cases in Kerala started showing a downward trend with the state on Sunday reporting 29,704 fresh cases, taking the total caseload to 21,17,912. A slight dip in new cases was detected through 1,15,982 tests carried out in the last 24 hours.
The test positivity rate was 25.61 percent. This is the lowest since May 12 when the state had recorded 43,529 new COVID-19 cases. With 89 more people succumbing to the disease, the toll reached 6428. Currently, 4,40,652 people are under treatment in the state.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Delhi Metro suspends services on all lines till ‘further notice’
In the wake of extension of curfew in Delhi for the containment of Covid-19 by the Govt. of NCT of Delhi, the Delhi Metro services on all its Lines shall also remain suspended till further notice. Any change in services will be notified.
— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) May 16, 2021
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
30 deaths in 2 weeks in VK Singh’s Haryana village, says sarpanch
Over 30 people have died in Union minister V K Singh’s ancestral village here in the past two weeks, the sarpanch said on Sunday as the unusually high number of deaths raised concern that COVID-19 could be the cause.
Bopara village head Naresh said many of these people showed symptoms of the novel coronavirus infection, but only three of them had tested positive for the disease.
Over 30 people have died in the village during the past two weeks. Many of them were elderly. Among those who died, only three were confirmed COVID-19 positive cases, he said.
Bhiwani Deputy Commissioner Jaibir Singh Arya told PTI over phone that all residents of the village have been screened for the disease. The officer, who toured the village on Sunday, also said that an ambulance has been stationed in the village.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
No new virus strain behind spate of Covid-19 deaths in AMU: Official
Genome sequencing of Covid-19 samples has not found any new coronavirus strain behind the infection around the AMU campus, university authorities said Sunday as another member of their fraternity died.
Professor Abu Qamar, 75, the former dean of the Faculty of Medicine in the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital died here on Sunday of Covid-19 after battling it for nearly three weeks, JNMC Principal Shahid Ali Siddiqui said.
Prof Qamar died two days after AMU’s former proctor, Prof Nasim Beg, 76, died in a New Delhi hospital where he was shifted to and admitted after his condition worsened here, his family members said.
At least 38 AMU teachers, including 21 serving ones, have died of Covid or Covid-like symptoms in the last one month, triggering doubts if any new deadly strain of the virus has been in circulation on the AMU campus.
These doubts also prompted the varsity’s JNMC authorities to send Covid-19 samples from the AMU campus and its neighbouring Civil Lines area for genome sequencing to the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology in New Delhi.
-PTI
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Corona curfew extended in Bhopal till 24 May
The coronavirus-induced curfew in Bhopal and Berasia town in Madhya Pradesh was on Sunday extended till May 24 by Collector Avinash Lavaniya, an official said. The corona curfew, which was supposed to end at 6am on May 17, has earlier been given multiple week-long extensions since April 12.
Essential services and emergency travel are exempted from the ambit of the curfew, he added. The COVID-19 caseload in Bhopal, as on Saturday, was 1,12,226, including 838 deaths, the official said.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Over 4.5 cr COVID tests done, 1.5 cr people vaccinated in UP: Yogi Adityanath
Over 4.5 crore COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Uttar Pradesh so far, while 1.5 crore people have been vaccinated for coronavirus, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday.
The chief minister said the state did not have “much capacity” for COVID testing till March last year but is now conducting 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh tests every day.
“On March 2, 2020, we did not have much capacity for COVID tests nor isolation beds for treatment of COVID patients in the state.
‘With support from the Centre, the state government’s machinery along with help from various organisations, today we are conducting 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh tests every day, Adityanath told reporters in Noida during a visit here to review the pandemic situation.
“Over 4.5 crore COVID tests have been conducted in the state so far. The state has 80,000 hospital beds in L2 and L3 category where coronavirus positive patients can be treated,” he said.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Punjab extends COVID curbs in state till 31 May
As per reports, as the state continuing to report high COVID-29 positivity and CFR, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday ordered extension of all the existing restrictions up to 31 May, with directions for strict enforcement of all the curbs.
“DCs will continue to determine the opening of shops in a staggered manner,” he says.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Delhi reports over 6,000 new cases
Delhi reports 6,456 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the tally up to 13,93,867. Toll rises to 21,506 with 262 deaths.
🏥Delhi Health Bulletin - 16th May 2021🏥 #DelhiFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/ceS7olPFra
— CMO Delhi (@CMODelhi) May 16, 2021
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No vaccination drive in Mumbai on Monday due to cyclone, says BMC
The Mumbai civic body on Sunday decided to keep its COVID-19 vaccination drive suspended for the third day on May 17 in view of the warning about cyclone Tauktae, municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had on Friday announced that there would be no inoculation on May 15 and 16 considering the India Meteorological Department’s cyclone warning.
The vaccination programme will now be implemented on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Chahal said.
According to the IMD, cyclone Tauktae has intensified into a “very severe cyclonic storm” and is very likely to reach the Gujarat coast in the evening hours of May 17 and cross it between Porbandar and Mahuva in Bhavnagar district around the early morning of May 18.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Armed forces use veterinary corps personnel at COVID facilities
To augment medical care services to fight the brutal second COVID-19 wave, doctors and other staff from the Remount Veterinary Corps have been roped in by the armed forces, essentially to help run patient facilitation centres, officials said on Sunday, PTI reports
Around 18 officers, over 120 junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and other ranks have been deployed in specially created COVID-19 facilities in the national capital, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Varanasi and Patna under operation ‘CO-JEET’, which was started by the combined armed forces in view of the pandemic.
‘CO-JEET’ stands for co-workers of all three services who will finally have ‘Jeet’ (victory) over COVID-19.
Coronavirus News LATEST Updates
Covaxin effective against India, UK coronavirus strains: Bharat Biotech
Bharat Biotech on Sunday said its COVID-19 vaccine ‘Covaxin’ has been found to be effective against coronavirus strains found in India and the UK.
Citing a study published in peer-reviewed medical journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, the Hyderabad-based vaccine major noted that vaccination with Covaxin produced neutralising titres against all key emerging variants tested, including B.1.617 and B.1.1.7, first identified in India and the UK, respectively.
The study was conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Virology and Indian Council of Medical Research, it added.
Covaxin gets international recognition yet again, by scientific research data published demonstrating protection against the new variants.Yet another feather in its cap👍🏼@PMOIndia @nsitharaman @drharshvardhan @MoHFW_INDIA @ICMRDELHI @DBTIndia @doctorsoumya @BharatBiotech pic.twitter.com/AUhphvvivz
— Suchitra Ella (@SuchitraElla) May 15, 2021
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NCMC directs states to ensure proper running of COVID centres during Cyclone Tauktae
The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) headed by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba met on Sunday, where the top bureaucrat of the country directed agencies to ensure “uninterrupted” functioning of the COVID hospitals in the states affected by the impending Cyclone Tauktae and secure “zero loss” of lives.
Officers from various central agencies, the chief secretaries of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the administrators of the Union territories of Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu took part in the meeting, a statement issued by the government said.
The NCMC met to review the preparedness of the central and state agencies to deal with the cyclonic storm that is expected to reach the Gujarat coast in the morning of May 18 with wind speeds ranging from 150-160 km per hour, accompanied by heavy rainfall and storm surge, it said.
-PTI
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UK defends delay in adding India to red list travel ban
The UK government came under strong criticism on Sunday for not adding India to the “red list” travel ban at the same time as Pakistan and Bangladesh in early April, which is feared as a major factor behind a rapid spike in cases of COVID-19’s B1.617.2 variant first identified in India.
Downing Street said it had taken a “precautionary action” to ban travel from India on April 23, six days before the B1.617 variant was put under investigation and two weeks before its highly transmissible subtype, B1.617.2, was labelled a Variant of Concern (VOC).
According to the latest Public Health England (PHE) data, around 20,000 people travelled between India and the UK before the red list ban and around 122 of them arriving from Delhi and Mumbai between late March and April 26 were detected with the VOC.
-PTI
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‘Arrest me too’: Rahul Gandhi tweets vaccine poster which led to arrest of 25 in Delhi
Challenging the arrests of 25 persons by Delhi police for posters that surfaced across the city questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to donate vaccines to neighbouring countries, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted the poster on his Twitter account daring the police to arrest him.
“Arrest me too,” Gandhi tweeted today in both English and Hindi, along with the “white Hindi words on black background” poster that led to the arrests. It read: “Modi Ji, why did you send vaccines meant for our children, abroad?”
Arrest me too.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 16, 2021
मुझे भी गिरफ़्तार करो। pic.twitter.com/eZWp2NYysZ
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Maharashtra CM asks family doctors to join fight against COVID-19
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday appealed to doctors who serve as family physicians to join the state’’s fight against COVID-19 and advise their patients under home isolation about the right treatment protocols.
During a virtual interaction with private medical practitioners and members of the state COVID-19 task force, Thackeray said patients trust their family doctors more than anyone else.
“The treatment protocols of COVID-19 patients in home isolation can be managed more effectively if their family physicians join the battle against the viral infection,” the chief minister said.
He said family physicians can evaluate the COVID-19 patient’’s condition, co-morbidities and oxygen level during home isolationand guide them effectively regarding the need for hospitalisation.
“If the asymptomatic patients in home isolation are treated effectively,it would help reduce the COVID-19 mortality rate,” he said. He said family doctors should also take into account the increasing sugar level of COVID-19 patients and how it can be restricted.
-PTI
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India’s COVID-19 positivity rate drops to 16.98%, says Centre
India’s COVID-19 active cases count has decreased to 36,18,458 with a net decline of 55,344 cases being recorded in the active caseload in a span of 24 hours, while the daily positivity rate dropped to 16.98 percent, the Union health ministry said on Sunday. The total active caseload now comprises 14.66 percent of the country’s total infections, it said.
Ten states, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh, cumulatively account for 74.69 percent of the country’s total active cases, the ministry said.
“A declining trend in the positivity rate is also observed which has dropped to 16.98 percent (May 16) from 24.47 percent recorded on May 3,” it said.
India’s cumulative recoveries have reached 2,07,95,335 with 3,62,437 patients recuperating in a span of 24 hours. It outnumbers the country’s daily COVID-19 cases for the fifth time in the last six days, the ministry said. Ten states account for 70.94 per cent of the new recoveries.
-PTI
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Congress MP dies of COVID19 in Pune
Congress MP Rajeev Satav dies at a private hospital in Pune on Sunday, days after recovering from Covid-19, reports PTI. He was 46. Satav was on ventilator support. He had tested positive on April 22.
Party leader Rahul Gandhi said Satav’s death is a huge loss for the Congress. “He was a leader with huge potential who embodied the ideals of the Congress,” he writes.
I’m very sad at the loss of my friend Rajeev Satav. He was a leader with huge potential who embodied the ideals of the Congress.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 16, 2021
It’s a big loss for us all. My condolences and love to his family. pic.twitter.com/mineA81UYJ
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States to receive nearly 51 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses in next three days: Centre
More than 1.84 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with states and UTs, while nearly 51 lakh doses are in the pipeline and will be received by them within the next three days, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday. The Centre has so far provided more than 20 crore vaccine doses (20,28,09,250) to states and UTs free of cost, it said.
Of this, the total consumption, calculated based on average up to May 14, including wastages, is 18,43,67,772 doses, according to data available at 7 pm on Saturday. “More than 1.84 crore COVID vaccine doses (1,84,41,478) are still available with the states and UTs to be administered. States with negative balance are showing more consumption (including wastage) than vaccine supplied as they have not reconciled the vaccine they have supplied to Armed Forces,” the ministry said.
-PTI
News18 SheShakti 2025: Voices of cinema, sport and music redefine nation-building
At News18 SheShakti 2025 Delhi, women from sports, cinema, and music discussed breaking barriers. Kriti Sanon and Sanya Malhotra focused on equity in cinema, Mira Erda and Ashalata Devi on sports challenges, and Kavita Krishnamurti stressed humility and perseverance for lasting success.
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